As of: 08/22/2022 6:55 p.m
Germany is urgently looking for energy suppliers. When it comes to hydrogen, Canada should play a “very, very central role,” emphasized Chancellor Scholz. He also spoke to Premier Trudeau about LPG.
In view of the war in Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stressed the importance of close cooperation with Canada in the energy sector. “Canada will play a very, very central role in the development of green hydrogen,” said the SPD politician after a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Montreal. “We are therefore very happy that we can also use this opportunity to expand our cooperation in this field.”
However, liquid gas will also be needed for a transitional period in order to reduce dependence on Russian gas.
Tagesschau live: Press conference by Scholz, Habeck and Trudeau
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Canada also wants to help in the short term
Trudeau said it would look into exporting liquefied gas across the Atlantic. 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 next winter.” Russia should not use energy as a weapon of war.
Russia’s war of aggression is forcing Germany to position itself more broadly, especially in the energy sector. Although Canada has liquefied natural gas (LNG), Germany can only benefit from this in the medium term because, for example, there are still no terminals in Germany. The focus of the Chancellor’s trip is therefore hydrogen production. In addition, German companies are interested in Canadian minerals and metals.
Canada’s important role
Russia is not a reliable business partner, the Chancellor said. The country has reduced gas deliveries across Europe, citing technical reasons that never existed. “And that’s why it’s important that we don’t fall into Putin’s trap and stick together and stand together.” Trudeau said Russia tried to blame others for weaponizing energy policy.
“Russia is trying to split the world community”
The Chancellor 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 allied themselves to support Ukraine.” It is therefore important that Canada has helped ensure that the overhauled turbine can be returned.
Plan the reconstruction now
The future of Ukraine was also discussed in Montreal: Scholz sees Germany as sharing responsibility for the reconstruction of the Eastern European country. That is “an important task, where the world community has to set the right course in good time,” said the SPD politician. 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.
Scholz traveled to Canada for three days with Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck to explore an energy partnership with Prime Minister Trudeau. And the hopes are high, because the second largest country in the world in terms of area could help free itself from dependence on Russia. Canada is one of the largest natural gas producers in the world.