Germany is
eyeing the possibility of importing natural gas from Nigeria, according to
comments Chancellor Olaf Scholz made in an interview with Nigerian daily
newspaper The Punch, Report informs via DW.
Scholz is set to arrive in the West African state on Sunday for a trip aimed at strengthening bilateral relations with Africa's largest economy, his office said in a statement.
It is the
German leader's first visit to Nigeria since the inauguration of the new
government under President Bola Tinubu.
"Nigeria
has the biggest gas supply in Africa," Scholz was quoted by the Nigerian
newspaper as saying. "German companies are interested in gas deliveries
from Nigeria and look forward to cooperation with Nigerian gas companies."
Scholz also
said that Germany saw Nigeria, the continent's largest economy, as "a key
partner for us in Africa, politically and economically."
The German
chancellor added that he was "eager to discover the country and strengthen
and deepen our partnership," mentioning economic cooperation, investments,
global issues, migration and security.
Scholz is expected to hold talks with Tinubu during his trip. He is also
scheduled to open a Nigeria-German business conference and meet with civil
society representatives and entrepreneurs.
Scholz said
Germany was also looking into "joint initiatives to ramp up the hydrogen
market," with hydrogen set to play an important role in the future.
Germany
currently imports large quantities of crude oil from Nigeria, but no gas.
"Germany
has a considerable demand for natural gas and, going forward, hydrogen to fuel
its economy and energy transition. Concrete amounts should be agreed on in
negotiations between Nigerian gas producers and German gas traders,"
Scholz was reported to have said.
Scholz also
pointed out that Nigeria was Germany's second-largest trading partner in
sub-Saharan Africa, with direct German investments in Nigeria amounting to €150
million ($158 million) in 2021.
He said
there was potential for greater cooperation and investment in several areas,
from "infrastructure and energy to agriculture business, mineral
resources, information and communication technologies, transport and logistics,
and beyond."
Following
the visit to Nigeria, Scholz is to travel on to Ghana.
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