It should be an exceptional moment. When Climate and Economy Minister Robert Habeck bowed to the Emir of Qatar during a state visit, he did so to secure gas supplies in case Putin turned off the tap. However, Habeck’s ministry keeps a big secret about the question of how much energy Qatar can supply and when. Not without reason.
The moment of truth will soon come near Greifswald, in the port of Lubmin. As soon as the ongoing maintenance work on Nord Stream 1 comes to an end at the end of July, it will become clear whether Russian gas will continue to flow through the Baltic Sea pipeline. If not, Germany faces a massive energy crisis.
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The gas storage tanks are currently around 65 percent full. If Putin turns off the tap, that won’t be enough for the coming winter. Then alternatives are urgently needed. In order to ensure this, Climate and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) has been traveling to various countries for months and establishing energy partnerships there. A very media-effective meeting took place between Habeck and the Emir of Qatar. The Economics Minister then announced the good news that gas supplies had been promised during the negotiations. It is about the liquid gas LNG.
Only one energy partnership has been signed to date. That in turn does not mean that gas will actually flow. But what exactly was agreed there in Qatar?
According to the answer to a request from the CDU member of the Bundestag Tilman Kuban to the federal government, which is available to FOCUS Online, it says that possible LNG deliveries using the partnerships signed by Habeck would only be “politically flanked”. And further: “The federal government itself does not conclude any contracts with supplier countries or companies for the delivery of LNG and accordingly does not enter into any direct negotiations.” This is the sole obligation of the companies concerned.
Months after Habeck and the sheikh met, it is not clear how much gas will be provided from Qatar, nor when can it be delivered. The BMWK does not provide any information and only refers to the companies. The responsibility for further steps would now lie with them.
The problem: As of now, at least the major German energy companies have not signed a single contract with suppliers from Qatar, according to FOCUS Online information. The information provided by EnBW, RWE, Vattenfall, E.On and Lex Uniper shows that some of the companies have agreed on additional deliveries from the USA, but there is no mention of Qatar. For example, EnBW announced the conclusion of a contract with the North American supplier Venture Global LNG, in which the purchase of 1.5 million tons of liquid gas per year was agreed – but only from 2026.
In the future, RWE is even planning an additional 2.25 million tons from the USA. However, there is not even a final contract here, only a letter of intent with the Texan company “Trading and Sempra Infrastructure”. It remains unclear when LNG will actually start flowing.
This means that there are currently no additional gas deliveries for this winter.
Robert Habeck gave the Germans great hope with his video message from Doha. In the clip, which went viral shortly after publication, the climate minister described his unease: “People are dying in Ukraine and here – you can see – what the skyline is like,” says Habeck, narrowing his eyes at the camera. However, it is an attempt to get away from Russian gas. “Qatar is in the process of increasing the production of gas and Germany needs more gas in the short term, which is to be replaced from Russia,” explains Habeck and then announces: “The good news is that this will be provided.”
The video contributed to Habeck being the most popular politician in Germany today. Again and again the Green was praised for his communication style. And rightly so, because more transparency, it seems at first glance, is not possible. Communication is not at all transparent if it is not clear when or how much gas will be delivered from Qatar.
Criticism echoes from the opposition. The CDU member of the Bundestag Kuban says: “Habeck becomes the show minister.” It is not enough to travel to Qatar to attract media attention. The minister must finally roll up his sleeves and ensure that there are enough liquid gas contracts – including those from Qatar. “Otherwise he could have saved the trip at taxpayer expense, including kowtowing to the sheikh,” Kuban told FOCUS Online.
Now the BMWK can pass on the responsibility to the companies, but wasn’t it Habeck who made the specific promise that he had been promised gas? Apparently the only written form is the energy partnership, i.e. a declaration of intent. In the short term, however, it brings very little.
