BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz planted a tree in a mangrove park in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, a symbolic nod to environmentalism during a two-day visit to the Gulf region focused mainly about securing new fossil fuel supplies and forging new alliances against Russia.
Germany tries to wean itself off energy imports from Russia in response to Ukraine invasionwhile avoiding a power shortage in the coming winter months.
To do this, the German government has been looking for new suppliers of natural gas while installing terminals to bring fuel into the country by ship.
After visiting the Jubail Mangrove Park in Abu Dhabi, Scholz met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to sign an agreement on energy cooperation and discuss the country’s hosting of the climate talks. of the United Nations next year.
German utility company RWE announced on Sunday that it will receive its first shipment of liquefied natural gas from Abu Dhabi’s national oil company this year. In a separate deal, RWE will partner with UAE-based Masdar to explore other offshore wind energy projects, the company said.
From Abu Dhabi, Scholz flew to Qatar to meet the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to discuss bilateral relations, regional issues such as tensions with Iran and the upcoming organization of the Football World Cup by the Gulf country.
Speaking to reporters in Doha, Scholz acknowledged there had been progress in improving conditions for foreign workers involved in the construction of tournament venues, but left open whether he would attend the tournament himself. one of the games.
The German leader’s first stop on Saturday was Saudi Arabia, where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Human rights groups criticized the meeting over Prince Mohammed’s alleged involvement in the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Scholz told reporters after the meeting that he discussed “all civil and human rights issues” with the prince, but declined to elaborate.
German officials noted ahead of the trip that Scholz was one of many Western leaders to have met with the Saudi crown prince in recent months, including US President Joe Biden.former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron.
German officials have said all energy deals will take into account the country’s plans to become carbon neutral by 2045requiring a switch from natural gas to hydrogen produced with renewable energies in the decades to come.
Saudi Arabia, which has large areas suitable for cheap solar power generation, is seen as a particularly suitable supplier of hydrogen, they said.
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