BERLIN, Feb 6 (Reuters) - German utility RWE signed agreements with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and renewable energy firm Masdar on Friday to boost liquefied natural gas supplies and expand
RWE Considers LNG Purchases from ADNOC as Germany Diversifies Energy Sources
RWE's Strategic Energy Partnerships
By Kirsti Knolle and Christoph Steitz
Agreement with ADNOC
BERLIN/FRANKFURT, Feb 6 (Reuters) - RWE signed a provisional agreement on Friday with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company that Germany's top utility said could see it purchase LNG supplies for European markets, as Berlin pushes to diversify its energy partners.
Germany's Shift in Energy Supply
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is currently visiting countries in the Gulf region, hoping to find new energy sources and reduce his country's dependence on its current dominant suppliers, including the United States.
Collaboration with Masdar
In addition to its business as a power producer, RWE, which counts Qatar as its single-biggest shareholder, is also an energy importer and trader in gas and LNG.
Under the framework agreement with ADNOC, RWE will explore the possibility of purchasing up to 1 million metric tons of LNG annually for up to 10 years for Germany and other European markets.
Germany has been shifting away from Russian gas since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Norway is now its biggest gas supplier. And the United States provides nearly all of its LNG.
But relations between Europe and Washington have been rattled by U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive trade tactics, his wavering support for Ukraine, and his stated desire to take over Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.
"I am very pleased about our strategic collaboration with ADNOC, which underscores our shared commitment to securing Europe's energy needs," RWE CEO Markus Krebber said.
"Our plans build on a successful and long-lasting partnership."
Separately, RWE reached a deal with Masdar, Abu Dhabi's state-owned renewable energy company, to jointly invest in up to 2 gigawatts of battery storage projects in Germany.
The Gulf region, with its vast resources and investment capacity, has become an increasingly important partner for Berlin.
Merz, who led talks in the United Arab Emirates after visiting Qatar on Thursday, is pushing to deepen ties with Gulf states with a particular focus on long-term cooperation in energy and technology.
Germany needs "such partnerships more than ever" as global politics shift, the chancellor said this week.
(Reporting by Kirsti Knolle and Christoph Steitz; Editing by Linda Pasquini and Joe Bavier)
