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Italy to end Russian gas imports

this year, claims government

RUSSIA ITALY will be able to end Russian gas purchases storage and regasification units (FSRU) near
this year and will emerge as a hub for gas supply the cities of Piombino and Ravenna later this
Italy previously aimed for Europe, its enterprises minister Adolfo Uros year. Italian gas grid operator Snam plans to
to end Russian gas told local media last week. moor a new FSRU, Golar Tundra, at the port of
imports in 2024. “We will get rid of gas supplies from Russia Piombino for three years, and another called BW
this year,” Urso said. “Starting from next year, Singapore off Ravenna. Each will have a capacity
we will be able to supply gas to other countries of 5 bcm per year.
and we will soon turn into Europe’s gas hub as The project in Piombino has faced some legal
a result of the doubling of supplies through the trouble, with Italian trade union USB filing a
TAP [pipeline].” legal complaint against Snam’s plan earlier this
Italy was previously one of the biggest mar- month, citing serious “environmental crimes.”
kets for Russian gas in Europe, but the share of USB criticised the decision to position the ter-
its supplies that came from Gazprom shrank in minal in an area that had already been polluted
2022 to 16% from 40% previously, as a result of by an old steel plant, stating that regasification
Moscow cutting deliveries. Two LNG regasifi- processes would further increase pollution and
cation terminals that Italy plans to launch this cause “serious and irreparable injuries.”
summer will provide a further 10 bcm per year However, given the Italian government’s pri-
of gas, which is more than enough to replace the oritisation of energy security, the court case is
remaining volumes from Russia, Urso said. Ita- unlikely to derail the project.
ly’s current regasification capacity stands at 17 In addition to extra LNG and greater vol-
bcm per year. umes from Azerbaijan via the TAP pipeline,
Italian authorities had previously forecast Italy is looking to procure more gas from North
that Russian gas supply would continue until the Africa as well. Italian Prime Minister Gior-
second half of 2024. gia Meloni secured a new deal to expand gas
Italy currently has three regasification termi- imports from Algeria during a trip to Algiers in
nals, but plans to bring on stream two floating late January. ™

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