German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated in an interview airing Sunday on CTV Question Period that his country wants more Canadian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to diversify its energy supply amid persistent global supply chain threats. Speaking with host Vassy Kapelos, Wadephul confirmed that a market exists in Europe for Canadian exports as Berlin shifts away from Russian energy dependence following the war against Ukraine.
Geopolitical Risks Threaten Global Supply Chains
Wadephul pointed to multiple geopolitical flashpoints that are currently pressuring international energy markets. Beyond the conflict in Ukraine, the German minister cited instability in the Middle East, specifically highlighting vulnerabilities around the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. These disruptions have left critical supply routes under threat, prompting Germany to look toward new international partners.
“We are looking to Africa, for instance, to Nigeria, but also to Canada and to the United States, this is true,” Wadephul told CTV Question Period. The nation’s energy strategy now balances immediate import needs with a long-term transition toward green technology.
Balancing Conventional LNG Exports With Renewable Energy Goals
When asked by host Vassy Kapelos whether Germany’s push to accelerate its renewable energy infrastructure would reduce trade in conventional energy sources like LNG, Wadephul answered emphatically. “No,” he said, adding that switching systems takes time and that traditional fuels remain an essential bridge.
Germany maintains “a huge need for gas,” according to Wadephul, who described LNG as a “very needed source.” At the same time, Berlin sees opportunities for bilateral cooperation on green technology. The track record for joint clean energy initiatives remains mixed, however. A 2022 agreement signed under former prime minister Justin Trudeau—known as the Canada-Germany Hydrogen Alliance—has faced significant delays and missed its initial target to begin exports by 2025, though leaders from both nations maintain their support.
From Past Policy Resistance to Current Export Agreements
The stance from Berlin matches a broader European interest in Canadian energy that spans several years. In 2024 interviews with CTV Question Period, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and then-Polish president Andrzej Duda both expressed interest in purchasing Canadian LNG. While former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s administration previously maintained that a business case for European exports did not exist, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government takes the opposite view.
Concrete projects are beginning to materialize. In May, an agreement was struck between Ksi Lisims LNG on British Columbia’s West Coast and Germany’s state-owned Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE). The deal commits SEFE to purchase one million tonnes of LNG per annum for up to 20 years, with initial deliveries slated for the early 2030s.
Current Export Capacity and Expansion Plans in British Columbia
Canada’s operational export infrastructure centers on the LNG Canada facility in Kitimat, British Columbia, which successfully began shipping gas in the summer of 2025. Half a dozen additional LNG export projects remain in various stages of development across the country.
Industry sources indicated to CTV News that an announcement regarding LNG Canada Phase 2 is expected next week. The expansion project is designed to double the facility’s current production capacity.
Energy Supply Questions Answered
Is Germany currently importing LNG from Canada?
Germany has secured future supply through an agreement announced in May between Securing Energy for Europe and Ksi Lisims LNG on B.C.’s West Coast, with deliveries expected by the early 2030s.
What is the status of Canada’s LNG export terminals?
LNG Canada in Kitimat, B.C., is operational and began shipping gas in the summer of 2025. Approximately half a dozen other projects are in development, with an expansion announcement for Phase 2 expected soon.
Why is Germany seeking out Canadian energy?
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul cited the need to diversify energy sources away from Russia and protect supply chains from disruptions in the Middle East, including threats near the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb.
Will Germany’s green energy transition stop LNG imports?
No. Wadephul stated that conventional gas will remain necessary for Germany while the country transitions its infrastructure over time.
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