Qatar Threatens EU with Liquefied Gas Export Cuts
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Reuters, Qatar sent an official letter to belgium threatening that it could cut off all LNG exports to Europe as a response to the EU’s new climate rules.
Qatar ranks as the world’s third-largest liquefied natural gas exporter after the United States and Australia. As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Doha has supplied between 12 and 14 percent of Europe’s natural gas needs.
In the letter, Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi stated that this decision was made in reaction to regulations known as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). Under this law, large companies operating within the EU must thoroughly evaluate and address human rights and notably environmental issues throughout their supply chains.
The letter explains: Simply put, unless further amendments are made to CSDDD, Qatar’s government and its state-owned entity Qatargas will have no choice but to seek choice markets outside the European Union for LNG and other products-markets that offer a more stable and business-pleasant surroundings.
A European Commission spokesperson confirmed receiving Qatar’s letter on May 13. As then, EU lawmakers and member states have been consulting on possible adjustments to this directive.
Al-Kaabi specifically raised concerns about mandatory corporate climate transition plans aligned with limiting global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius-the target set by the Paris Agreement.
The letter also stated: “Neither the State of Qatar nor Qatargas currently plans any near-term commitment toward achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions. This legislation undermines countries’ sovereign right to determine national contributions toward fulfilling Paris agreement goals.”