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No one can replace Russia in energy supplies - Qatari energy minister

Qatar is currently unable to help Europe with gas deliveries, Saad Sherida Al Kaabi said

CAIRO, March 26. /TASS/. Qatar is currently unable to help Europe with gas deliveries, as there is no alternative to Russia at this stage, Qatari Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad Sherida Al Kaabi said at the Doha Forum on Saturday.

"I do not think that at the moment we can urgently help [Europe]," he said. "No one can take Russia’s place in energy supply."

On Friday, the minister said that Qatar would not be able to replace Russia, which accounts for 30-40% of gas deliveries, as the emirate could not substitute such amounts.

In recent months, the European Union and the UK reiterated the need to end or slash their reliance on Russian natural gas. Qatar is mainly seen as an alternative supplier. According to the Kpler digital marketing services company, Qatar exported 77.83 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2021 and was the second largest exporter after Australia in terms of volumes. However, many experts agree that Qatar is unlikely to replace Russia in the European market in coming years, as most of its LNG volumes go to the Asia-Pacific countries under long-term contracts.

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