Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said, on Friday, that the Qatar Energy oil and gas company could start shipping liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Germany from its terminal in the US state of Texas in 2024.

In an interview for German newspaper Handelsblatt, Al Thani said, "Extractions at our North Dome gas field will be expanded no sooner than in 2026, possibly in 2025. But we expect that our Golden Pass LNG plant in Texas, in which Qatar Energy has a share of 70%, will reach enough capacity as early as in 2024 for us to be able to supply [gas] to Germany." 

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Since Moscow launched its special military operation on February 24 in response to the breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics' request for assistance in fending off Ukrainian provocations, the European Union has been attempting to cut off Russian gas from its markets. European leaders have repeatedly stated that the EU will seek alternative energy sources from around the world, as well as increase the share of renewables.

On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the REPowerEU initiative, which aims to phase out Russian energy resources. Its tools will be foreign gas imports and an increase in the EU's share of renewable energy.