As of: 05/22/2022 9:09 p.m
Germany wants to work closely with Senegal on gas production. Chancellor Scholz announced this after a conversation with President Sall. Germany and Europe could then be supplied in the next few years.
At the start of his trip to Africa, Chancellor Olaf Scholz offered Senegal cooperation in gas production. It makes sense to “follow closely” such a cooperation, Scholz said after talks with Senegalese President Macky Sall in Dakar. The Chancellor also showed his willingness to cooperate more closely on renewable energies and storage technology.
Chancellor Scholz starts his trip to Africa in Senegal
Daniel Pokraka, ARD Berlin, daily news at 8:00 p.m., May 22, 2022
Senegal has significant gas reserves and intends to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from autumn 2023. Germany and Europe will also be supplied later, President Sall announced after the meeting. “We are interested in supplying gas to the European market,” he said. By 2030, production is to be increased to ten million cubic meters per year. With this, Senegal could make a contribution to replace Russian gas.
exploitation of fossil deposits
To make this possible, Scholz announced a correction in the policy of no longer investing in fossil deposits. The Chancellor spoke of a common concern and announced further talks at the technical level. “We want to be good partners.” Scholz cited the Russian attack on Ukraine as the reason for the U-turn in the planned restriction of the exploitation of fossil deposits. “The fact that we have to take a fresh look at the situation in the world is the result of what I called a turning point – and that will not be limited to individual questions, but must also have consequences in many other places.”
The trend reversal was already indicated on Friday, when government circles said that despite the restrictions imposed by the European Investment Bank and the development banks, exposure to the natural gas sector in the West African country could be envisaged. European governments are currently looking around the world for alternatives to Russian gas.
food prices go up
During his visit to Senegal’s capital Dakar, Scholz also addressed the current food crisis. He warned that many countries could face great difficulties in feeding their populations. “That must not leave us cold, it doesn’t leave us cold,” he said. Germany will “do everything we can do” to counteract this.
The Russian blockade of wheat exports from Ukraine has caused food prices to rise and exacerbated the crisis, especially in the East African countries of Somalia, Ethiopia and northern Kenya, which have been hit by severe drought.
No clear condemnation of Russia
Scholz also makes stops in Niger and South Africa on his three-day trip. The Chancellor will also talk about why many African countries have so far refrained from clearly condemning Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
When the UN General Assembly voted to condemn Russia’s war of aggression, 141 of the 193 UN member states voted in favor and five against, including Eritrea in Africa. In addition to China, India and Brazil, the 35 abstentions included 17 African countries, including South Africa and Senegal.