Equinor and German energy company Uniper have signed a 15-year agreement for the supply of natural gas to Germany. Under the deal, Equinor will deliver more than 30 TWh of natural gas annually to Uniper, equivalent to approximately 2.8 billion cubic metres. Deliveries will commence on 1 January 2027 and continue until 31 December 2041.
Equinor is a Norwegian state-owned energy company headquartered in Stavanger, founded in 1972 as Statoil. The company is one of the largest suppliers of natural gas to Europe, and Germany is its largest market. Uniper is a European energy company based in Düsseldorf, employing approximately 7,000 people. The company is a leading player in the German gas market, supplying energy and services to around 1,000 municipalities and industrial enterprises. Uniper has 18.5 GW of generating capacity and is the largest operator of gas storage facilities and hydroelectric power plants in Germany.
The gas will be delivered to the German gas market Trading Hub Europe, with prices reflecting market conditions. Other commercial details remain confidential between the parties. The agreement extends the two companies’ long-standing cooperation, which already spans several decades. The new deal comes into effect in 2027, when Norway and Equinor will celebrate the 50th anniversary of gas exports to Germany. For five decades, Norwegian gas has heated German homes, powered German industry and contributed to Germany’s energy security.
– We are pleased to extend our long-standing partnership with Uniper. This agreement demonstrates strong demand for reliable, long-term gas supplies from the Norwegian continental shelf, which delivers energy and industrial raw materials with a lower carbon footprint than alternative gas supplies. The agreement further strengthens Equinor’s role as a trusted, long-term energy partner for Europe – said Anders Opedal, President and CEO of Equinor.
Equinor has consistently increased its engagement in the German market over the years. The company has been supplying gas to Germany continuously since 1977, and in recent years has strengthened its position as a key supplier of the commodity to German industry and households. Germany is Norway’s largest gas buyer, and its demand for the commodity remains stable despite the ongoing energy transition. For Equinor, the agreement with Uniper is not only a guarantee of stable revenues, but also confirmation of Norway’s role as a reliable energy partner for Europe. Long-term contracts of this kind are typical for the gas industry, as they provide both parties with predictability and investment security. Equinor invests in the maintenance and development of its fields on the Norwegian continental shelf, and long-term offtake agreements form the basis for planning capital-intensive extraction projects.
Energy security and the transition
Michael Lewis, CEO of Uniper, emphasised the importance of long-term partnerships for Europe’s energy security. Norway is a cornerstone of European energy security, and Equinor is a trusted partner with deep expertise and a strong commitment to the European market.
– This long-term agreement is a strong signal for the future of the European energy system. Reliable, long-term partnerships remain essential for secure and competitive energy markets, and this agreement strengthens gas supplies to Germany for years to come. At the same time, we see significant potential in cooperating with Equinor on developing proven, low-emission gas solutions for customers in Germany. Norway is a cornerstone of European energy security, and Equinor is a trusted partner with deep expertise and a strong commitment to the European market – said Michael Lewis, CEO of Uniper.
Uniper plays a key role in the German energy system. The company is not only the largest gas storage operator in Germany, but also one of the main LNG importers and a leading player in the gas trading market. For Uniper, the agreement with Equinor means securing a significant portion of its gas needs for the next 15 years. The German energy market is undergoing a profound transformation, but natural gas remains an essential component of it. It fills gaps in energy supply during periods when renewable generation is insufficient, and also serves as a feedstock for the chemical industry and district heating. As a systemically important company, Uniper must ensure stable supplies for its customers, and long-term agreements with suppliers such as Equinor are crucial to this.
Sustainability attributes
The parties have also signed a non-binding letter of intent regarding the potential sale by Equinor to Uniper of sustainability attributes relating to supplies under the new gas agreement. These attributes concern documented data on the origin of the gas, its greenhouse gas emission intensity and other sustainability characteristics of Equinor’s gas production. The data is verified by third parties and made available via the Attributes digital platform.
The Attributes platform is a digital tool developed by Equinor that enables the documentation and tracking of environmental parameters of natural gas from extraction to delivery. Through this platform, Equinor’s customers can obtain detailed information on the carbon footprint of the gas supplied, which is becoming increasingly important for companies that must report their emissions under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and other regulations. Verification of the data by independent third parties ensures the credibility of this information. For Uniper, access to such data can be a valuable tool in managing its own carbon footprint and meeting reporting requirements for its industrial customers.
The role of gas in the future energy mix
Natural gas is set to remain a key part of Europe’s future energy mix. It will support security of supply, industrial activity and the flexibility of the energy system as renewable energy sources and low-emission gases develop. The agreement between Equinor and Uniper is further evidence that long-term gas contracts remain a cornerstone of the European energy market.
For Germany, which is accelerating its energy transition but at the same time must ensure supply stability, Norwegian gas plays a key role. For Equinor, the agreement with Uniper guarantees stable revenues for the next 15 years and confirms Norway’s position as a reliable supplier of raw materials to Europe. In the face of changing geopolitical and market conditions, long-term partnerships of this kind are gaining in importance.
Equinor and Uniper are continuing a cooperation that began many years ago and which is intended to serve both German consumers and European energy security. With the development of carbon capture and storage technologies and green hydrogen production, natural gas can become a bridge towards a low-emission economy. For this reason, agreements such as the one between Equinor and Uniper are seen as part of a broader strategy that combines current energy needs with long-term climate goals. Equinor and Uniper have declared their readiness for further cooperation on low-emission solutions, indicating that their partnership may extend beyond traditional gas supplies.
Photo: Equinor
