Italian ports look to benefit from government strategy to reduce gas imports from Russia

Rome, Italy (PortSEurope) March 24, 2022 - The Italian government is exploring two extra liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification facilities. This is part of the efforts to reduce energy imports from Russia. The company Snam has been asked to recommend two suitable vessels to act as floating storage regasification units (FSRU). Snam is seeking the assistance of Iren, Sorgenia and Enel. Italian ports look to benefit from government strategy to reduce gas imports from Russia. Sourcing LNG Rome will look to import LNG from Qatar and the USA. The African countries of Angola and Congo could become future suppliers. It will take Italy about two years to replace Russian energy (approximately 30 billion m³). Italy is now importing gas from Azerbaijan via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and plans increased pipeline imports from Algeria. In addition to installing more renewable capacity, increasing domestic natural gas production by 2.2 billion m³. Offshore wind projects could generate 40 gigawatts and in 2026, biomethane could contribute 2.5 billion cubic meters to the energy mix. Snam Snam manages the Italian pipeline network and has been asked to acquire an FRSU and to charter a second one. Demand for such vessels is high, so the task will not be straightforward. The Port of Ravenna has already indicated an interest. Other candidates are Gioia Tauro, in Calabria, through Sorgenia; and Porto Empedocle, Sicily, through Enel. Currently, Snam owns the Panigaglia terminal, as well as having a 49% stake in OLT Offshore LNG Toscana (the company that owns the Livorno plant) and a 7.3% stake in Terminale GNL Adriatico, the ExxonMobil company that manages the Porto Viro regasification terminal. The process is handicapped by a long authorisation process which will inevitably attract environmental resistance. Gioia Tauro The Gioia Tauro terminal is capable of processing 12 billion m³ of LNG daily. Sorgenia's chief executive, Gianfilippo Mancini, told the Reuters news agency that "if the authorities decide to speed things up, the plant could be ready in four years." Iren, a multiservice company based in Emilia-Romagna that controls the project together with Sorgenia, has shown itself to be "ready to provide the resources and skills to help build the terminal". Porto Empedocle The Porto Empedocle project, proposed by Enel, is capable of treating approximately 8 billion m³ of LNG per year, or one-tenth of the national requirement. Any port would welcome such a facility which would create new jobs and boost the respective regions. Copyright (C) PortSEurope. All Rights Reserved. 2022.

Italian ports look to benefit from government strategy to reduce gas imports from Russia

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Italian ports look to benefit from government strategy to reduce gas imports from Russia

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All news

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