Comment STEPHENVILLE, Newfoundland — The leaders of Germany and Canada said Tuesday that a new hydrogen pact will launch a transatlantic hydrogen supply chain, with the first deliveries expected in just three years. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz signed the agreement in the port city of Stephenville, Newfoundland. A Canadian company plans to build a zero-emissions plant that will use wind power to produce hydrogen and ammonia for export. Hydrogen is seen as part of Europe’s plan to reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels, particularly in light of the war in Ukraine and recent cuts in Russian gas supplies to Germany and other countries. Scholz said Canada is Germany’s partner of choice as the country moves away from relying on Russia for energy. “Our need may be even greater under the new conditions,” Scholz said. Natural gas prices have risen as Russia cut or cut off natural gas flows to a dozen European Union countries, fueling inflation and increasing the risk that Europe could sink into recession. Germans have been told to reduce their use of natural gas now so that the country has enough for the coming winter. The Canadian government earlier on Tuesday signed separate deals with Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz that will see the two German carmakers secure access to Canadian raw materials for electric vehicle batteries. The deals include Canadian cobalt, graphite, nickel and lithium.
