United Arab Emirates to supply Germany with gas and diesel

The United Arab Emirates agreed Sunday to an "energy security" agreement with Germany to supply liquefied natural gas and diesel as Berlin searches for new power sources to replace Russian supplies.

Emirati industry minister Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber called it a "landmark new agreement" that "reinforces the rapidly growing energy partnership between the UAE and Germany" as he signed the deal, which was witnessed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the UAE's state news agency WAM reported.

Scholz is on a visit to the UAE, where he met with Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

Scholz said he "welcomed" the "energy security" agreement, WAM added.

As part of the deal, the UAE will provide "an LNG cargo for delivery in late 2022, to be used in the commissioning of Germany's floating LNG import terminal at Brunsbuettel", a North Sea port, the statement added.

UAE state oil company ADNOC completed its first ever direct diesel delivery to Germany earlier this month, and will "supply up to 250,000 tons of diesel per month in 2023", it said.

The German leader is touring the Gulf in the hope of sealing new energy deals to replace Russian supplies and mitigate the energy crisis resulting from Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

On Saturday, Scholz met in Jeddah with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and later Sunday he was due to fly to gas-rich Qatar to hold talks with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.