BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - In the search for a replacement for Russian gas, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is now also making the case for an energy partnership with Iraq. "Iraq would be a very welcome cooperation partner for us in importing gas and oil to Germany," Scholz said after a meeting with Iraq's new Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Berlin on Friday. Gas imports could also be routed to other European countries via Germany, he added.

Scholz stressed that Germany does not want to become dependent on individual gas suppliers again, as it used to be on Russia. At times, well over half of Germany's gas imports came from there before the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Now Germany no longer buys any gas from Russia.

Al Sudani emphasized Iraq's intention to push ahead with gas exports. "We have ambitious plans to use gas that accompanies oil production and is burned off in the process," the prime minister said. "We have highlighted these opportunities and invited German companies to invest in this sector." Few countries in the world are as dependent on oil revenues as Iraq. The country is the fifth-largest oil producer, according to the International Energy Agency. Iraq also exports gas through a Basra Gas Company LNG terminal that will open in 2022.

On the sidelines of the visit, Siemens Energy also signed a memorandum of understanding with Iraq's Minister of Electricity Siad Ali Fadhil to expand the infrastructure of the country's notoriously poor electricity supply. "We have had a good experience with Siemens. We have expressed a desire to see other (German) companies in the fields of health, education and agriculture," Al-Sudani said.

Specifically, Siemens Energy is to build and expand power plants powered by fossil fuels and renewable energy sources on a scale of about six gigawatts. The projects are expected to reduce power outages and lower CO2 emissions. Iraq suffers from a notoriously poor power supply with frequent outages. These, along with poor economic conditions and corruption, are among the reasons for the mass protests that have rocked Iraq in several waves since 2019.

Al-Sudani made his inaugural visit to Berlin after forming his government in October following months of infighting. The new head of government is under pressure to lead his country out of a severe political and economic crisis after years of war against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia.

The long political crisis in Iraq had escalated violently several months ago. Militias engaged in heavy fighting amid volleys of fire in the so-called Green Zone in Baghdad. Several people were killed and hundreds injured. Supporters of the influential Shiite cleric Muktada al-Sadr had previously stormed and occupied the government palace with the prime minister's office as well as the parliament building. After a parliamentary election, a year passed before the current government was formed.

A few years ago, the IS controlled large areas in Iraq and Syria and proclaimed a so-called caliphate there. The terrorists have since been defeated there militarily, but they remain active and carry out attacks./mfi/arb/jot/ruc/DP/nas