Italy to receive more LNG
The Italian government to implement he realization of LNG terminals in Trieste and Agrigento. Italy energy policy is more European thanks to PM Mario Monti's guide
More gas for Italy from different sources is the strategy Mario Monti's technician Italian government assumed to guarantee sure gas supplies to Italy.
On Saturday 1/5 Italy's Environment Minister Corrado Clini backed the realization of the LNG terminal in Trieste.
Minister Clini told the terminal's project should now face a Environmental Feasibility Study and has to be planed in agreement to International Maritime Organization's rules.
According to Italpress news agency, minister Clini also underlined that Trieste LNG terminal is a project, supported also by Slovenia and Croatia, conceived to diversify Europe's gas supplies.
Trieste LNG terminal, as well as the Krk one in Croatia, could ensure Europe the import of liquefied gas from Algeria, Qatar, Norway, Egypt and the USA.
Krk LNG terminal, and the Trieste one, are also a part of the EU Northern-Southern Corridor: a pipeline planed by the European Commission to launch the island of Krk with Poland's LNG terminal of Swinoujscie.
In addition to the Adriatic one, Italy is also to implement the realization of a LNG terminal in Porto Empedocle, near Agrigento, to import more liquefied gas from Northern Africa countries.
As sentenced by the Italian Economic Development Minister Corrado Passera, the LNG terminal must be realized in 6 years, as already established by an agreement between the Italian government and Sicily Region.
Minister Passera also added the Porto Empedocle LNG terminal is fundamental to allow the realization of the Helsinki-La Valletta Energy Corridor, which has been planed by the European Commission to strengthen EU energy security.
On September 2012, Minister Passera, on behalf of Italian PM Mario Monti, signed a declaration of political support of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline - TAP.
The Italian government argued the necessity to support TAP by the possibility to import 21 bcm of Azerbaijani gas from the border between Turkey and Greece to the Apulia region, making Italy the one Azerbaijan gas' hub in Europe.
Previous Silvio Berlusconi's right wing government established a tight energy cooperation with Putin's Russia which increased Italy's energy dependence on the Kremlin.
The friendship between Putin and Berlusconi brought to Southstream project: a pipeline which will deliver 63 bcm of Russian gas in Italy form Russia via the Black Sea seabed, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Slovenia.
Supported by Russian national energy major Gazprom, and Italian energy concern ENI, the Southstream is contested by the European Commission because the pipeline endangers the EU energy independence and endangers the EU member states national security.
Matteo Cazzulani
Free lance journalist and energy deals consultant m.cazzulani@gazeta.pl Twitter @MatteoCazzulani Facebook - Matteo Cazzulani Skype - prometeoarancione
