Qatar has threatened to cut natural gas (LNG) exports to the European Union (EU) in response to the bloc's corporate sustainability due diligence directive (CSDDD), according to a letter from Qatari Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi to the Belgian government, dated May 21 and seen by Reuters. In the letter, Kaabi, who also heads QatarEnergy, criticised the CSDDD for imposing requirements that compel large companies to address human rights and environmental issues in their supply chains. He warned that unless the EU softens the directive, Qatar and QatarEnergy would "seriously consider alternative markets outside of the EU" that offer "a more stable and welcoming business environment." Qatar, the world's third-largest LNG exporter after the US and Australia, currently supplies between 12 and 14 per cent of Europe's LNG needs. It has long-term contracts with major European firms including Shell, TotalEnergies, and ENI. Kaabi also objected to the CSDDD's requirement for companies to adopt climate transition plans aligned with the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, stating that Qatar has no immediate plans to reach net-zero emissions. An annex to the letter proposed removing the climate plan provision altogether. The European Commission acknowledged receiving a similar letter dated May 13 and noted that negotiations on changes to the directive are ongoing. Proposed amendments include delaying the law's implementation to mid-2028 and easing supply chain checks. However, Qatar argued that these revisions remain insufficient. Attribution: Reuters Subediting: M. S. Salama
