Germany open to fossil gas and hydrogen cooperation with African countries
Tagesspiegel Background / 威力彩玩法
The German government is open to partnering with African countries on fossil gas projects, as well as blue hydrogen production (made from fossil gas, where carbon is captured and stored), . New guidelines on cooperation with countries on the African continent emphasise work towards ending fossil fuel use and expanding renewables, but leave the door open to fossil gas and hydrogen derived from it.
鈥淎frican raw materials and energy 鈥 in particular electricity from renewable energies as well as green and, temporarily, low-carbon hydrogen and its derivatives and, temporarily and under certain conditions, natural gas 鈥 are key factors for a successful energy transition in Africa, Europe and Germany,鈥 the government's say.
The government said that guidelines from 2019 had needed updating to reflect developments since then, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia鈥檚 war on Ukraine and its effects on Africa, and climate change as a security issue. Focal points of German-African cooperation would be overcoming global challenges including climate change, economic cooperation, strengthening democratic resilience, education, and supporting security, peace and stability.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz鈥檚 government has sought to diversify gas imports and find new suppliers since the halt of direct supplies from Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. Scholz had said Germany could support countries like Senegal in their efforts to extract and export gas, and pushed for including an exception for fossil gas support in international agreements such as the G7 leaders鈥 communiqu茅 in 2022 鈥 despite to no longer provide public support for foreign fossil fuel projects.
The updated Africa guidelines now say that cooperation in the area of natural gas would be based on two government documents: the 鈥樷 policy programme from July 2024, and the . These allow state support for gas projects, 鈥渋f these are necessary for national security or geostrategic supply security interests, while complying with the 1.5掳C limit and avoiding lock-in effects鈥.