Scholz in Canada: Energy mission for Germany - focus on hydrogen and LNG at press conference

Created: 08/23/2022, 07:54

By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi, Felix Durach

Chancellor Scholz and Economics Minister Habeck after landing in Montreal.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Economics Minister Robert Habeck have arrived in Canada with a business delegation for a three-day trip.

The news ticker.

• Habeck and Scholz in Canada: During their visit to Canada, the two government representatives are aiming for closer cooperation between the two countries in the areas of climate and energy.

• Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Economics Minister Robert Habeck have arrived in Canada for a three-day trip abroad.

• This news ticker on the visit of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Economics Minister Robert Habeck is constantly updated.

Update from August 23, 7.49 a.m

.: Second day of Scholz and Habeck’s trip to Canada: The Chancellor and the Economics Minister are taking part in an online summit of the International Crimea Platform in Toronto in the morning, an action by the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Crimea -Reverse annexation.

This will be followed by a German-Canadian business forum.

At noon, Scholz and Habeck fly to Stephenville in Newfoundland, where a wind turbine for the production of hydrogen is planned.

On Tuesday evening (local time), Scholz and Habeck fly back to Berlin.

Scholz and Habeck in Canada: press conference with Trudeau

Update from August 22, 6:25 p.m .:

Scholz and Trudeau’s press conference is over.

It was about economic cooperation and Ukraine as well as mainly energy issues.

The general message of both heads of government was that in the long term they wanted to switch to alternative, clean energy sources - also with regard to the dependence on gas and oil from Russia.

For this purpose, hydrogen was given special attention.

For the transition phase, however, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is to be used as an energy source.

Canada promised supplies to Germany, with Trudeau emphasizing Canada's role in supplying the entire world with energy.

Scholz repeatedly underlined the cooperation with Canada in this field.

Update from August 22, 6:20 p.m.:

As part of a long-term strategy, one wants to use hydrogen in Germany, explains Chancellor Scholz.

Industry in Germany also made this decision.

With regard to the current situation, however, they want to find new sources for importing liquid gas during the transition phase.

Canada is also one of those countries.

Update from August 22, 6:10 p.m .:

Canada is a large oil and gas producer, emphasizes Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau.

He assures that Canada will increase capacities and contribute to global supply.

According to Trudeau, it will also be checked whether it makes sense to export liquid gas.

There are talks about this between companies in Canada and Germany.

Scholz in Canada: Trudeau sees continued dependence on Russia "for the next one to two years"

Update from August 22, 6:05 p.m .:

Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasizes that Germany is working hard to become independent of gas and oil from Russia.

For this purpose, many investments are made and attempts are made to implement the plans as quickly as possible.

"Never before has such an infrastructure been built in Germany in such a short time," said the Chancellor.

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Update from August 22, 6 p.m.:

At the press conference with Olaf Scholz, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau said: “Europe and Germany will remain dependent on gas and oil imports from Russia for the next one to two years.” Russia does not want any Delivering gas or oil, but blame other countries like Canada.

With the return of the Siemens turbine, Russia's excuse was eliminated, Trudeau said.

Update from August 22, 5:50 p.m.:

“It is clear that we will also need liquid gas for a transitional period,” emphasizes Scholz, describing this as “indispensable”.

He points to efforts to end dependence on Russian energy supplies.

The Federal Chancellor explained that cooperation with Canada would also have to be carried out in other areas of raw materials.

Scholz in Canada: Chancellor emphasizes hydrogen for climate neutrality and independence from Russia

Update from August 22, 5:45 p.m .:

Scholz thanks Canada for returning the turbine from Siemens.

"Russia is no longer a reliable business partner," emphasizes Scholz, referring to the reduction in the flow of gas through Moscow.

It is important not to fall into "Putin's trap", which is why we have to stick together as allies.

It is important to ensure that we can operate in a climate-neutral manner in the future.

Therefore, one must also use hydrogen, emphasizes Scholz.

For hydrogen, Canada will play a central role.

"It can be one of the very important countries for the supply of green hydrogen to many industrialized nations," says Scholz, adding: "And of course we would like to be a partner in this."

Update from August 22, 5:40 p.m .:

Chancellor Scholz is now speaking.

Germany wants to further develop the good relations with Canada.

The talks with Trudeau are "of course" also about the Russian war of aggression and the effects of the "brutal war" on the international order.

"For us, it is crucial that we do everything we can to support Ukraine," said Scholz.

This was done, among other things, with weapons and financial means as well as the organization of support.

In addition, one will “do everything for a successful reconstruction”.

According to Scholz, the sanctions decided by the West are "dramatically" affecting the development opportunities of the Russian economy.

Update from August 22, 5:35 p.m .:

The Canadian Prime Minister emphasizes that due to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, efforts for clean energy sources must be continued.

They also talked to Scholz about support for Ukraine and wanted to discuss specific measures the next day.

Scholz in Canada: Trudeau underlines the role of clean energy resources

Update from August 22, 5:30 p.m .:

Trudeau speaks first.

It is about "celebrating the friendship between the two countries and discussing the work for the future".

He looks forward to working with the German Chancellor.

With Scholz, they also want to further develop energy security.

"Canada can and will also provide the clean energy resources the world needs," Trudeau said.

Furthermore, they want to work to protect peace and democracy in Europe and in the world.

Update from August 22, 5:25 p.m .:

The joint press conference between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau begins.

Update from August 22, 1:58 p.m .:

During their visit to Canada, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Economics Minister Robert Habeck spoke to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday.

In addition to closer cooperation in the areas of climate and energy, there should also be cooperation in supporting Ukraine in the ongoing war against Russia.

After the meeting scheduled for 3:30 p.m., the two heads of government will hold a press conference in Montreal at around 5:15 p.m.

When it comes to liquefied natural gas (LNG), government officials are apparently aiming for a long-term solution.

The delivery of Canadian gas to Europe is difficult due to a lack of export infrastructure.

As Habeck explained on ZDF, there are no LNG terminals on Canada's east coast.

However, he emphasized that there are still enough other options on the world market for sourcing liquid gas to replace pipeline gas from Russia once the new LNG terminals in Germany are operational.

Habeck and Scholz in Canada: Energy Mission has a clear goal for Germany

First report from August 22nd:

Montreal – Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) have arrived in Canada for a three-day trip abroad.

On Monday evening, the two members of the government were received in Montreal by Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.

In addition to Montreal, visits to Toronto and Stephenville, a coastal city in Newfoundland, are also planned during the course of the trip.

The dominant topic of the visit should be closer cooperation in the climate and energy sector between Germany and Canada.

Scholz and Habeck in Canada: "Energy partnership for the future" as the goal

The focus of the trip is therefore to conclude an "energy partnership for the future" with Canada, Habeck explained on Monday in the ZDF morning magazine.

Specifically, the signing of an agreement on cooperation on the subject of hydrogen is planned.

But the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is also on the political agenda, as well as the extraction of minerals and metals such as nickel, cobalt, lithium and graphite that are present in Canada.

LNG

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is used when there is no pipeline connection between the producer and the consumer.

Natural gas liquefies when it is cooled to -162 degrees Celsius.

It's usually more expensive than pipeline gas.

Especially with a view to the Ukraine war, the federal government wants to strengthen its cooperation with Canada in order to create alternatives for Russian energy and raw material exports.

"The country has similar rich natural resources as Russia - with the difference that it is a reliable democracy," Scholz confirmed on Sunday evening.

The traffic light government in Berlin was only dismissed by the population in a survey published at the weekend.

Scholz on Canada: Share "a similar view of the world"

Scholz also emphasized that Germany has hardly any other country outside the European Union that has such close and friendly ties as Canada.

"Not only do we share common values, we also share a similar view of the world," he said.

The chancellor and economics minister will remain in the second largest country in the world in terms of area up to and including Tuesday.

On their trip, Scholz and Habeck are accompanied by a delegation of business representatives.