Deputy Secretary of Energy meets with German officials to discuss energy security

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette told German officials how natural gas production has played an integral role in U.S. energy security and discussed how it could do the same for Germany.

Brouillette delivered the remarks at a German LNG Conference in Berlin, hosted by German Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier. Altmaier and Brouillette were joined by International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol, as well as government and industry leaders, to discuss the essential role of natural gas in both the U.S. and Germany’s energy futures. U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell also attended the conference.

Both Brouillette and Altmaier agreed that diversifying Germany’s natural gas supply is critical to maintaining both Germany and the EU’s energy security. To that end, Altmaier said the German government would finance the construction of two LNG import terminals in Germany. Brouillette said the U.S. is encouraged by these efforts to help Germany diversify their energy infrastructure and supply.

Brouillette reasserted the U.S. opposition to the Nord Stream II pipeline, which would increase Germany’s reliance on the Russian Federation. Both leaders agreed to work together to find new opportunities for LNG collaboration between the U.S. and Germany. Brouillette also held meetings with German State Secretary for Energy, Andreas Feicht, and Foreign Affairs State Secretary, Walter Lindner, on the subject.