Canada-German energy agreement to focus on long-term energy planning

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is hinting that an energy pact planned between Canada and Germany will focus more on Canada’s aim to be a long-term clean energy supplier to the world.

Trudeau is set to sign an energy development agreement largely focused on hydrogen with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during Scholz’s visit to Canada next week.

Trudeau says the Russian invasion of Ukraine “changed everything” for global energy security.

Europe, and Germany in particular, are heavily reliant on Russian oil and gas and are desperately seeking both short and long-term alternatives.

Trudeau says Canada has increased its oil and gas outputs but cannot realistically do much to change the energy crunch in the short term.

But longer-term, he says Canada’s hydrogen and critical minerals strategies are aimed at making the country one of the world’s biggest net-zero energy suppliers.