MILANO – He’s the premier Mario Draghi to establish with its presence the agreement with Algeria which has the energy issue at its center. The prime minister did not want to miss the crucial international meeting to ensure Italy diversification of gas sources and continue the path to become independent from Moscow, despite the well-known crisis of its executive. The intergovernmental summit “confirmed our privileged partnership in the energy sector. In recent months, Algeria has become our country’s leading gas supplier” and the announcement of the 4 billion cubic meters of gas that Sonatrach will send to Italy in addition to the flows already agreed, done in recent days, it represents “an acceleration with respect to the provisions” of the agreements and “anticipates even more conspicuous supplies in the coming years”, explained Draghi in Algiers. He then recalled that the collaboration with Algeria will be “in the development of renewable sources, in particular green hydrogen and solar, wind and geothermal energy”.
The government in Algiers to buy more gas. Also for Northern Europe
by Serenella Mattera, and Luca Pagni
“It is a great pleasure to be back here in Algiers to chair the fourth Intergovernmental Summit between Italy and Algeria. This summit is the latest in a series of institutional meetings between our countries. I want to mention in particular the President’s state visits. Mattarella in Algiers last November and the President Tebboune in Rome last May, in addition to my visit in April. Once again I thank President Tebboune and the Algerian government for their warm hospitality “, began Draghi.
The EU challenges Putin: an emergency plan against the stop to Russian supplies
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Tebboune himself recalled that “as regards energy, tomorrow, God willing, there will be a very important agreement between Occidental, Eni and Total for 4 billion dollars, which aims to supply Italy with very important quantities of natural gas”. And then he reiterated “what we have proposed to Italy, to my friend, President Mario Draghi: we will be suppliers of Europe for solar energy and electricity”.
On the table of the meeting could not miss the question of the war in Ukraine at the hands of Russia. “Today’s summit is also an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of Italy and Algeria to the stability and prosperity of the Mediterraneanput to the test by the Russian invasion of Ukraine “, Draghi recalled again in the press point with the President of the Algerian Republic.” Italy – he added – has long been committed to the front line to unblock the transit of cereals from ports of the Black Sea and avoiding a catastrophic food crisis “, he picked up” encouraging “signals from the negotiations underway with Turkey and hoped that this opening will now be consolidated.
The EU makes an agreement to double the flow of Azerbaijani gas
Returning to gas, the Italian strategy provides precisely for the diversification of sources to become independent from the 25-30 billion cubic meters that arrive from Moscow every year. In addition to Algeria, other countries are also involved in the increase in flows. The strategy is being carried out by Rome, but also by Brussels. Just today the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyenwent to Baku, the capital ofAzerbaijan, where he signed with President Aliyev the new memorandum of understanding on a strategic partnership in the energy sector which includes a commitment to double the capacity of the “southern corridor”. Under the strengthened energy cooperation, the Commission has indicated that the supply to the EU of Azerbaijani natural gas is already increasing, from 8.1 billion cubic meters in 2021 to the expected 12 billion cubic meters in 2022. Brussels has indicated that the ‘Azerbaijan has already increased the supply of natural gas to the EU: up to 4 billion cubic meters of gas more this year. While volumes should more than double by 2027.
“Even before the brutal invasion of Ukraine Russian gas supplies to Europe were no longer reliable – said von der Leyen – The EU has therefore decided to diversify supplies from Russia and turn to more reliable suppliers. I am pleased to include Azerbaijan among them. You are truly a key energy partner for us not only for our security of supply but also for our efforts to become climate neutral. “
What will this agreement mean for Italy, which is now supplied with 6 billion cubic meters a year from Baku (the third supplier for us)? Precisely by virtue of this consolidated relationship, “he will be among the first beneficiaries of the agreement signed today between the Commission and Baku”, explained an EU source: “The Tap pipeline“, the one that connects Greece to Italy, in Salento, joining the Southern Corridor. Gas pipeline that will be the recipient of additional investments and works to allow doubling the flow of gas in transit, which” will be among the European projects of common interest ” .
Gazprom looks to China
The meeting of Draghi in Algeria took place just as it emerged that the Russian giant Gazprom declared “force majeure” on the stop of gas supplies to Europe to at least one important customer starting from July 14, according to a document viewed today exclusively by Reuters. In the letter Gazprom states that it cannot fulfill its supply obligations due to “extraordinary” circumstances beyond its control. Sources cited by Reuters reported that the letter concerns supplies through the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, which leads to Germany and from there to other European countries. Meanwhile, the Russian state giant has looked elsewhere: “On July 17, a new record was set for the daily volume of Russian gas supplies to China through the Power of Siberia pipeline,” he said.