Germany Staring In Critical Winter’s Face

German chancellor visits Canada in pursuit of for alternatives to Russian natural gas. Chancellor Olaf Scholz plans to sign hydrogen supply chains deal as pressure mounts over looming winter crisis.

The German chancellor describes his visit as an urgent mission to extract Germany from its dependence on Russian gas and pursue new energy supplies, as pressure mounts on his government to come up with solutions to tackle a looming energy crisis.

Olaf Scholz and his economy minister, Robert Habeck, accompanied by a team of officials and business leaders, plan to sign a deal to establish hydrogen supply chains as part of Berlin’s efforts to speed up its transition to renewable energy.

On his arrival in Montreal on the two-day visit, Scholz said Canada “has similarly rich natural resources to Russia – but the difference is that it is a reliable democracy”.

Scholz also said “new fields of cooperation” had opened up with Canada since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.