BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has spoken out in favor of gas imports from Iraq. "Unlike in the past, we will not depend on individual suppliers, but we will mobilize many others, cooperate closely with them," Scholz said at a press conference with Iraq's new Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Berlin on Friday. "Iraq would be a very welcome cooperation partner for us in importing gas and oil to Germany." Gas imports could also be routed to other European countries via Germany, Scholz said.

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./arb/mfi/DP/nas