The EU’s initiative to set a «price ceiling» for natural gas from Russia could deprive the EU of raw materials from Qatar, according to Der Spiegel. Qatar Energy Minister Saad Al Kaabi said that interference in the functioning of the market will only destroy the already established competition rules, and the country may completely abandon its obligations and supply gas to other states.
“Qatar is sticking to that [previous agreements — ed.], but “nothing is permanent and we have the right to do what we like with our volumes. <…> it was a promise that we made for a certain duration. When it’s appropriate for us to divert, we will.” – emphasized Kaabi.
The statements of the Qatari side had a significant impact on the gas industry in Europe and the US: crude oil price rose by more than 10%.