Germany is keen to pursue gas projects with Senegal, says Scholz on first African tour
By Andreas Rinke and Sarah Marsh
DAKAR/BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany desires to intensively pursue fuel and renewable power initiatives with Senegal, Chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned on Sunday throughout his first journey to Africa, towards the backdrop of the battle in Ukraine and its influence on power and meals costs.
Scholz kicked off the three-day tour in Senegal, which has billions of cubic metres of fuel reserves and is anticipated to turn out to be a serious fuel producer within the area.
Germany is searching for to cut back its heavy reliance on Russia for fuel following the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. It has initiated talks with the Senegalese authorities about fuel extraction and liquified pure fuel, Scholz mentioned.
“It’s a matter price pursuing intensively,” he mentioned at a information convention with Senegalese President Macky Sall, including that progress within the talks was within the two nations widespread curiosity
Scholz mentioned Germany was additionally involved in Senegalese renewable power initiatives. He didn’t present additional particulars.
On Friday, a German authorities official mentioned Germany might assist discover a fuel discipline in Senegal.
Sall mentioned Senegal was able to work in direction of supplying the European market with LNG. He forecast Senegal’s LNG output reaching 2.5 million tonnes subsequent yr and 10 million tonnes by 2030.
When it comes to fuel exploration, challenge financing and different questions, “all that’s open, and we’re eager to work with Germany on this context,” Sall mentioned.
UKRAINE WAR
Germany has invited each Senegal, which at the moment holds the rotating chairmanship of the African Union, and South Africa to attend the G7 summit it’s internet hosting in June as visitor nations.
Each nations abstained from voting on a United Nations decision towards Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a particular navy operation to demilitarize a neighbor it says threatened its safety.
Ukraine and its allies say the battle is an unprovoked act of aggression.
Talking as African Union chairman, Sall mentioned many African nations didn’t wish to take sides on the battle, whereas condemning the invasion.
“Very clearly, we would like peace,” he mentioned, “we’re working for a de-escalation, we’re working for a ceasefire, for dialogue … that’s the African place.”
Sal mentioned he would go to Moscow and Kyiv within the coming weeks.
The battle in Ukraine, a serious grains and meals provider, has triggered provide disruptions which have pushed up meals and power costs in Africa.
“I expressed to Chancellor Scholz our critical concern concerning the influence of the battle,” Sall mentioned, requesting worldwide assist to reduce the fallout for African nations.
Scholz will journey afterward Sunday to Niger, from the place he’ll fly to Johannesburg on Monday night for the ultimate leg of his tour.
(Further reporting by Alessandra Prentice and Ludwig BurgerEditing by Frank Jack Daniel)
