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The one-sided dependency on a supplier like Russia was "simply stupid," says Economics Minister Robert Habeck
Photo: CLEMENS BILAN / EPA
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) does not see the gas supply in Germany for the coming winter as yet completely secured.
He said this on Saturday before a trip to Qatar on Deutschlandfunk.
"That means if we don't get more gas by next winter and the supply connections from Russia are cut or broken off, we wouldn't have enough gas to keep all houses warm and all industry running."
Habeck warned: "Gas is mainly used in industry at the beginning of the supply chain and then there is or there can be a kind of domino effect." On a one-sided dependence on a supplier like Russia, Habeck said: "That was just stupid .«
The Economy Minister travels to Qatar on Saturday morning and then on to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The trip is part of efforts to reduce Germany's dependence on Russian gas in the wake of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
Germany gets more than half of its gas from Russia and is looking for alternative suppliers.
Habeck was therefore already in Norway, which is Germany's second largest gas supplier with a share of around 30 percent.
Norway could help with its liquid gas capacities, Habeck said on Thursday during his visit to Oslo.
Qatar is also one of the world's largest exporters of liquid gas.
So far, however, the vast majority has gone to Asia.
In the Emirates, the main focus is on green hydrogen.
The world market for gas is tense, Habeck said on Deutschlandfunk.
"The delivery quantities can of course be increased, but the supplying states have no interest in that." They have maximum profits, the prices are high with the same production costs.
"In this respect, you do encounter some resistance." However, this can be overcome, for example, with longer terms of supply contracts.
Immediately before departure, Habeck was also confident about short-term contracts and deliveries.
The hunger for gas is so great "that a good solution will certainly be found for Europe," said Habeck in Berlin.
The human rights situation in Qatar has been the focus of international attention, especially since the 2022 World Cup was awarded, and the desert state has been sharply criticized for its treatment of migrant workers.
When asked whether he would give the go-ahead for possible arms purchases and the resulting exports to Ukraine, Habeck said: "Yes, of course." Otherwise none of it makes any sense.
"Where is the difference, now the material difference, whether the federal government supplies weapons from Bundeswehr stocks or Germany allows weapons from other stocks to be supplied?"
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) had told Deutschlandfunk that the options for handing over weapons to the Bundeswehr were exhausted.
"And we're exploring what other possibilities there are." However, if weapons are purchased from German companies for delivery to the Ukraine, "it's not a way that goes through the Ministry of Defense, but that's a way through the Economics Ministry is leaving because then we will be talking about arms exports."
hat/dpa
