Middle East Fashion in the 60s

Abu Dhabi, UAE (CNN)"It's always nice to be wanted," Qatar's energy minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi said in jest during an exclusive interview with CNN's Becky Anderson on Thursday. "Anybody in Europe is talking to united states of america," he said.

Qatar, one of the world's top suppliers of liquefied natural gas (LNG), has been thrust into the limelight as European states rush to discover alternatives to the Russian gas that has powered their economies for decades, every bit Moscow presses on with its brutal war in Ukraine.

Merely Kaabi warned the transition will be difficult. Replacing Russian gas supply to Europe is "not practically possible" merely all the same, he said. Qatar's current gas capacity won't satisfy European demand, he said -- but it could in the future.

The European Union depends on Russia for about 40% of its natural gas. This week, German economic system government minister Robert Habeck left the Qatari uppercase Doha with an understanding to accept Qatar supply it with gas. Germany currently has no terminals to receive directly shipments of LNG from Qatar, but it plans to build two.

US President Joe Biden and his counterpart at the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Fri appear a joint task forcefulness aimed at finding culling supplies of lLNG and reducing overall need for natural gas moving forward.

"Europe has been a destination for united states of america, and is an important market for us," the Qatari government minister, who is also president and CEO of QatarEnergy, said. "And we will be supplying Europe."

Qatar has invested $28 billion into expanding its giant N Field and expects gas capacity to ascension by more than 60% in four years, he said. After that, around half of its capacity is expected to go to Europe. "Our plan is we want to be 50% east of Suez, l%, west of Suez," he said, referring to the Egyptian waterway. Effectually 80% of Qatar'south gas currently goes to Asian buyers, many of whom take signed long term contracts that don't allow a diversion of supplies to other buyers.

Here'southward what yous demand to know about the role Qatar tin can play in Europe's efforts to wean itself off Russian gas:

What can Qatar practice to help reduce Europe's dependence on Russian gas now?

Russia has the globe'southward biggest reserves of natural gas, nearly double those of Qatar, and its gas supplies account for 40% of the European Marriage'southward usage. Analysts said it'due south well-nigh impossible to supervene upon Russian gas for the time being.

"There is basically no spare LNG in the world market," said Robin Mills, CEO of Dubai-based free energy consulting business firm Qamar Free energy. Qatar's own divertible LNG is express "and bidding for that volition drive upwardly prices."

The only fashion Qatar tin can supervene upon Russian gas imports to Europe is past diverting cargoes from other customers who have signed long term contracts, such as those in Asia, something it hasn't been willing to do. By doing so information technology may incur bounty claims from those buyers.

Contractually divertible gas gives the seller the flexibility to redirect shipments to the highest value marketplace in response to changing market place weather.

As Europe tries to reduce its reliance on hydrocarbons, emerging economies in Asia, similar Mainland china and India, may be more attractive destinations for Qatari gas, said Yousef Alshammari, a senior research fellow at London's Imperial College.

The US could also sally as a gas supplier to Europe.

The White House said Friday that the US will piece of work toward supplying Europe with at least 15 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas in 2022 in partnership with other nations.

"Information technology's a big opportunity for the Usa," said Kaabi. "I think, definitely the Us is going to be, you know, ane of the largest suppliers, if not the largest supplier [to Europe] at some point," he said.

Would replacing Russian gas with Qatari energy face logistical issues?

Russia's gas supply to Europe is delivered via pipelines. There are no gas pipelines from Qatar to Europe so the Gulf nation'southward energy would have to shipped to Europe in liquefied form.

"Liquefaction of natural gas is free energy intensive, which emits carbon and that offsets climate benefits" of using natural gas, said Alshammari. "Information technology volition be hard for European policymakers as they set ambitious climate agendas and cyberspace-zippo targets."

European nations will too demand infrastructure to back up those shipments, which could take time to build, said Karen Young, senior fellow at Washington's Middle Eastward Found. Moving to Qatari gas may be easier for countries that already have that infastructure, like the United Kingdom and Espana, she said.

"The problem is that Europe is jumping into an LNG market place that cannot adapt its immediate demand for immense volumes," said Nikos Tsafos of the Eye for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC. "Of class, Qatar could ship more than gas to Europe, but it hasn't yet despite incredibly loftier prices in Europe, which suggests that its flows to Asia might be stickier than we think."

What would this mean for Qatar-Russian federation relations?

Qatar is keen to portray its gas deals as commercial transactions, and Al Kaabi said he isn't in favor of mixing politics with energy.

"This is a commercial understanding between commercial entities," Al Kaabi told Becky Anderson, referring to potential partnering with German energy companies to supply gas. "From a business concern perspective, we don't cull sides, nosotros act as a business organization and nosotros do our business organisation," he said.

Qatar would desire to nowadays it as a marketplace-based move, "non a strategic alignment against Russia," said Mills.

Other top Middle East news

Blinken to meet Abu Dhabi crown prince in Middle East tour

US Secretary of Land Antony Blinken volition run into Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed in Morocco in a tour of the Center East that starts Sat.The two will discuss a range of issues including Iran, Yemen, Syria, global energy markets and Ethiopia.

• Groundwork: Blinken's coming together volition exist part of a visit through the region that includes stops in Israel, Ramallah, Morocco, and Algeria. The trip is expected to be heavily dominated by give-and-take of Russian federation's invasion of Ukraine.

• Why it matters: The states-UAE relations have been strained of late amidst a reluctance by President Biden's oil producing Middle Eastward allies to increase crude production to aid dive downwardly oil prices. Saudi arabia and the UAE have also been calling on more than assistance from the Us to help ward off attacks from Yemen's Iran-allied Houthi rebels.

Iran's foreign government minister says Riyadh sending mixed messages on normalization

Iran has received contradictory statements from Kingdom of saudi arabia on the renewal of bilateral relations, the foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said during a news briefing in Beirut on Thursday.

• Background: Iraq, which is brokering talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia in Baghdad, had said the fifth round of talks would get-go on March 16. Only Islamic republic of iran unilaterally suspended talks after Kingdom of saudi arabia earlier this calendar month executed 81 men, some of whom were Shiites. Iran is majority Shiite.

• Why it matters: Saudi Arabia and Iran, which are locked in proxy conflicts throughout the Middle East, started direct talks final year to attempt to contain tensions but the talks oasis't progressed much. Whatsoever progress could significantly help de-escalate tensions in the region.

Dubai ruler's ex-married woman gets custody of children

A senior British judge awarded Princess Haya bint al-Hussein, the ex-married woman of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, sole responsibility for looking after their children. The approximate concluded that the sheikh inflicted "exorbitant" domestic abuse against his ex-wife. A statement issued on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed said he loved his children and would always provide for them. "He maintains his denial of the allegations made in these contentious proceedings," information technology said.

• Groundwork: The dispute betwixt the royals began shortly after Haya fled to Britain in April 2019, following the discovery she was having an affair with a bodyguard. In December, Sheikh Mohammed was ordered to pay Princess Haya more than $728 one thousand thousand in 1 of the largest divorce settlements ever handed down by a United kingdom court.

• Why it matters: The ruling caps the end of an expensive three-year custody battle at the High Courtroom in London betwixt Sheikh Mohammed and his former married woman. The rulings announced not to take affected relations betwixt Uk, Dubai and the UAE.

What'southward trending

Regional: #Saudi_League

Saudi Arabia qualified for the FIFA World Loving cup for the first time since 2006, meaning the Gulf state will compete at its 6th finals. Kingdom of saudi arabia drew ane-i with China in the team'south penultimate group game on Th simply had already qualified for the 2022 tournament when Nippon beat Australia in Sydney earlier that day. Saudi Arabia and Nihon have at present booked their spots for the Globe Loving cup every bit automatic qualifiers.

Regional: #Psychological_support

Arab social media users on Fri called for psychological support and mental wellbeing, with many posting quotes or images aimed at boosting morale. In a 2021 mental wellness study that sampled responses from Republic of iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen, data showed that close to forty% of respondents anile 18-24 were either "distressed or struggling." Mental health awareness is slowly gaining traction in the Centre East, with several online platforms and hotlines now offering help to those in need.

Oman: #Buy_from_Omani_shops

Omani social media users are calling on citizens to purchase local products and support the land'south many corner shops alee of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, where traditional sweets and fruits are common delicacies are pop among worshipers. Many posted photos of Oman's colorful markets, saying it is a national duty to support local traders. The influx of major supermarket chains in the country has seen footfall in smaller shops fall over the by decade.

By Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN

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