Uniper, a German gas importer, signs a 15-year deal with Equinor in Norway

Germany's Uniper signed a contract to import more than 30 terawatt-hours of gas per year from Equinor starting in 2027.

After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow cut all energy ties to the continent. Norway is now the number one supplier.

Uniper has made a new move to diversify their supply base, following a recent agreement signed with Canada. This was done to try to reduce the risks of shortages caused by the war in Iran.

Uniper CEO Michael Lewis stated in a press release that "this long-term contract?is an essential step?for Europe's future energy system." With this agreement, we strengthen Germany's gas supply on a long-term basis while at the same deepening our relationship with Equinor.

The companies said that they also wanted to?expand their cooperation in order to advance the development of low-emission natural gas, and highlighted the lower?carbon intensity? of Norwegian gas.

The companies did not give?more information? about the collaboration.

Anders Opedal, CEO of Equinor, said: "This agreement highlights a strong demand for reliable and long-term supplies of gas from the Norwegian continental shelf. These gas supplies provide energy, industrial raw materials, with lower CO2 emission than other sources."

Equinor is reportedly among those interested in state-owned Uniper. Berlin wants to divest the company after it bailed out the utility for Europe's energy crises of 2022. (Reporting and editing by Thomas Seythal, with Christoph Steitz)

(source: Reuters)