Scholz relies on closer energy cooperation with Canada
Created: 08/22/2022Updated: 08/22/2022, 21:11
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Canada's Premier Justin Trudeau (r) give a press conference.
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
During Chancellor Scholz's longest inaugural visit to date, the Ukraine war has welded Canada and Germany together.
It's about stronger economic cooperation - including on the subject of hydrogen.
MONTREAL - Germany and Canada have agreed to cooperate more closely in the energy sector and have pledged further help for Ukraine's defense against Russia.
The cooperation is particularly important when it comes to hydrogen: "Canada will play a very, very central role in the development of green hydrogen, and we are therefore very happy that we can also use this opportunity to expand our cooperation in this field," said Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) after a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Montreal on Monday.
At the same time he emphasized that he sees a role for Germany in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
With their three-day visit to Canada, Chancellor Scholz and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) want to significantly strengthen economic relations with the second largest country in the world - they traveled with a large business delegation.
The focus is on energy and raw material deliveries to Germany.
Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is forcing Germany to position itself more broadly, especially in the energy sector.
Pipelines and terminals are missing
Although Canada has liquefied natural gas (LNG), Germany could only benefit from this in the medium term because there are still no pipelines and terminals for transport across the Atlantic.
The focus of the trip is therefore on hydrogen production.
In addition, German industry is interested in Canadian minerals and metals, including cobalt, nickel, lithium and graphite, which are important for battery production.
On the subject of liquefied gas, Canada's prime minister slowed down: The export of liquefied gas across the Atlantic would be examined.
However, one of the challenges surrounding LNG is the level of investment in infrastructure.
"However, we are examining all other possibilities to help the Germans and Europeans in the short term, as they face a real challenge in the coming winter," said Trudeau.
On the subject of new Ukraine aid, Scholz emphasized that reconstruction was "an important task where the international community must set the right course in good time".
Even now, during the war, one has to deal with the reconstruction of the country.
Germany and the EU wanted to push this forward at a reconstruction conference.
In addition, arms deliveries to the east of Ukraine are still important - systems that have already been delivered are having an effect in the conflict.
Scholz: It's important that we stick together
Scholz praised the cooperation with Canada in the dispute over a turbine for the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline. “Of course, Russia is trying to divide the world community.
And also those who have joined forces to support Ukraine.” It is therefore important that Canada has helped ensure that the overhauled turbine can be returned.
Ottawa had circumvented its own sanctions against Russia and had come under domestic political pressure to deliver the unit, which Russia said was essential.
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“That was an important decision.
Because it exposed the strategy of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, which aims to divide allies, aims to undermine support for Ukraine.” Russia is not a reliable business partner, the Chancellor said.
The country has reduced gas deliveries everywhere in Europe, citing alleged technical reasons.
"And that's why it's important that we don't fall into Putin's trap and stick together and stand together."
Scholz and Habeck travel on to Toronto
Scholz and Habeck left for Montreal on Sunday and are now traveling to the metropolis of Toronto for a German-Canadian business conference.
The two then travel to Newfoundland, where in the remote town of Stephenville, an agreement is to be signed on greater cooperation between the two countries in the production and transport of hydrogen.
Newfoundland is considered a favorable location for the production of green hydrogen, which is generated with the help of renewable energies.
There is a lot of wind in the sparsely populated region and a lot of space to convert it into energy.
No greenhouse gases are produced when using hydrogen.
In principle, hydrogen can serve as the basis for motor fuels.
Because the production is very energy-intensive, hydrogen is currently still significantly more expensive than fossil fuels.
Scholz's longest inaugural visit
Three stations in three days - this is the Chancellor's longest inaugural visit to a single country.
Scholz and his Economics and Climate Minister Habeck are only traveling abroad together for the second time.
In May, they attended a North Sea summit together on increasing the use of wind power.
The German economy hopes that the German Bundestag will ratify the CETA free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada, which is expected to be released in the fall.
However, there has also been strong criticism of the agreement from trade unions, environmentalists and human rights groups - the agreement unilaterally protects corporate interests by undermining democratic decision-making and preventing effective policies to protect the climate, environment and social services.
With an area of almost ten million square kilometers, Canada is the second largest country in the world after Russia, but with around 37 million inhabitants it is comparatively sparsely populated.
The country is Germany's partner in the G7 of economically strong democracies and in NATO.
dpa