Enel Is Ready to Resume LNG Terminal Project as Italy Aims to Cut Ties With Russian Gas
March 08 2022 - 7:41AM
Dow Jones News
By Giulia Petroni
Enel SpA said it is ready to resume a liquefied-natural-gas
terminal project in southern Italy as the country seeks to reduce
its reliance on gas imports from Russia.
"Enel believes that, in order to be less tied to gas pipelines
in Italy, it is useful for the country to have two additional LNG
terminals," a spokesperson for the Rome-based energy company said
Tuesday, adding that it is available to resume the Porto Empedocle
LNG plant project, which is fully permitted.
The project is a LNG regasification terminal located in a port
industrial area on the coast of Sicily, capable of regasifying 8
billion cubic meters a year.
In line with Europe's plans to cut its dependence on imports
from Russia and speed up the path to energy security, Italy is
increasing its efforts to be less reliant on Russian gas flows
after its invasion of Ukraine.
According to Italy's Ecological Transition Minister Roberto
Cingolani it should take 24 to 30 months for Italy to become
independent from Russian gas.
"We import 29 billion cubic meters of gas a year from Russia,
which is about 40% of our gas imports. These must be replaced," Mr.
Cingolani said Tuesday on Italian television. "By late spring,
around 15 to 16 billion cubic meters will be replaced by other
suppliers...so a bit less than half of it remains. We are working
on this with new regasification plants, other long-term contracts
and the strengthening of our infrastructure," he said.
As one of the largest gas importers in Europe, with imports
accounting for over 90% of its total gas supply, Italy is currently
working to secure alternative sources of gas from other
international partners, including Algeria and Qatar.
Write to Giulia Petroni at giulia.petroni@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 08, 2022 07:26 ET (12:26 GMT)
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