gas importer SEFE

Berlin (dpa) — The German state-owned gas importer, Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE), plans to enter into a long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement with a Canadian company as Berlin seeks to diversify its energy imports.

SEFE and Canadian firm Ksi Lisims LNG signed a memorandum of understanding for the annual delivery of 1 million tons of LNG, the company said on Wednesday. Deliveries are expected to begin in the early 2030s and continue for up to 20 years.

The agreement is aimed at broadening Germany’s LNG supply base, which currently relies heavily on imports from the United States. According to Germany’s Economy Ministry, the deal would mark SEFE’s first long-term LNG partnership with a Canadian supplier.

Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said closer cooperation would help diversify supply routes and strengthen economic resilience against global risks.

SEFE, formerly known as Gazprom Germania, was previously a subsidiary of the Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom. The company was nationalized by Germany following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the resulting energy crisis.