TotalEnergies has signed a 27-year agreement with Qatar to secure liquefied natural gas, extending France’s commitment to fossil fuels beyond 2050 in one of the longest ever LNG supply deals.
Qatar will supply up to 3.5mn tonnes of LNG to France a year from 2026 at an undisclosed price, with the deliveries expected to continue until 2053, making it the Gulf state’s largest and longest deal with Europe.
Qatar has recently signed 27-year deals with Chinese companies Sinopec and China National Petroleum Corporation, but this is the first such deal with Europe.
It follows a 15-year deal between German utilities groups Uniper and RWE with Qatar to secure 2mn tonnes of LNG a year, announced in November.
French gas group Engie last year signed a 15-year LNG supply deal with Houston-based NextDecade.
France has four LNG import terminals and is planning a new floating one by the northern port of Le Havre.