Italy hopes to become EU gas hub and end reliance on russia

Italy plans to eliminate dependence on russian gas by the end of this year and become a gas hub for Europe.

Rubryka reports this with reference to the Italian publication "Il Messaggero."

As the publication notes, the Minister of Economic Development of Italy, Adolfo Urso, stated this in his interview.

"During this year, we will be free from russia [energy resources] compared to the 40% we bought from moscow in 2021 and the 16% recorded last year. From next year we will also be able to supply gas to other countries, and in a short time, we will become the European gas hub. This will also happen due to the capacity expansion of Azerbaijan's Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline. But there are other industrial opportunities from Baku, as evidenced by the Ansaldo Energia contracts, such as renewable energy and electricity project," the minister emphasized before leaving for Baku.

Moreover, he added:

" Due to two regasification plants in Piombino and Ravenna, which will start working by the summer, we will be completely free from russia: the plants will produce 10 billion cubic meters of gas, exactly as much as was imported from moscow last year."

According to him, next year, Italy will be able to supply gas to other countries and soon become a European gas hub.

"We must do the same on the electricity front: we can become the electrical hub of the Mediterranean and, together with Enel's mega-factory in Catania, we will become the largest producer of solar panels in Europe. The country's future is connected with investments in green and digital technologies: from batteries to semiconductors, as well as turbines, batteries, and panels".

In addition, Urso emphasized that industrial fuel prices in Italy are currently lower than in Spain, France, and Germany.

"This has never happened before. We will achieve the organic reform that operators and consumers deserve, and all families and businesses that economize now will be rewarded. Still, to achieve this goal, we need the contribution of all ministries. It is synergistic work with other administrations. Currently, we counted almost 2,000 different incentives [to reward for saving energy]: 229 national and 1,753 regional. We will discuss with the regions the creation of a single concept of incentives according to the principles of efficiency and effectiveness, greater uniformity, and simplicity. This is how industrial policy is formed."

For reference:

Due to the EU's effort to completely get rid of russian energy resources, Italy signed an $8 billion gas contract with Libya during a visit to Tripoli.

Italy signed agreements with several countries to expand alternative energy sources after the russian invasion of Ukraine, and Algeria replaced the russian federation as the largest supplier of gas to Italy.

It should be added that the head of the Ministry of Defense of Italy, Guido Crosetto, stated that the only way to avoid the Third World War is the necessity to stop russian aggression.