The story: Qatar will from 2026 supply Germany with 2M tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually via US energy giant ConocoPhillips. The deal comes as Germany pursues alternatives to Russian gas following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. It also notably follows German criticism of Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup, pointing to Doha’s rights record. 

The coverage: The Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported on Nov. 29 that QatarEnergy will sell LNG to ConocoPhillips, which will ship it to Germany’s new LNG terminal in Brunsbüttel. 

• QNA pointed out that the deal is the “first agreement for long-term LNG supply to Germany.” It will last for at least 15 years, starting in 2026. Of note, Berlin had long objected to a long contract duration. 

• Qatari Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy CEO Saad bin Sherida Al-Kaabi pointed out that Germany is “the largest gas market in Europe,” saying that Doha is “committed to supporting energy security” in Europe. Kaabi added that there is also...