Italy accelerates the search for alternative energy sources to Russian gas. «We are planning other missions to further diversify energy supplies to Italy. We have defined an Italian energy security plan to protect our citizens and our businesses ». This is what the Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio underlined, speaking from Doha, Qatar, where he met the Qatari emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Di Maio was accompanied by Eni’s CEO, Claudio Descalzi. The visit was prepared by a phone call from Prime Minister Mario Draghi to the Emir.
That of the Minister of Foreign Affairs was yet another step on the path that aims to reduce Italy’s dependence on Russian gas. An operation that also implies an increase in supplies from other countries. «I have been to Algeria and Qatar – Di Maio explained -, and I will make other trips. These countries have said they will increase their energy partnership with Italy. Italy has so many friends and partners around the world that it will not have to suffer any energy blackmail ».
Leading role of Qatar
If the goal is to diversify the sources of supply, Qatar can play a crucial role: the third largest producer of natural gas in the world (over 177 billion cubic meters per year), Italy is currently the third largest exporter of gas. natural gas – after Russia and Algeria – and the first of liquefied natural gas, for a supply of 6.9 billion cubic meters per year equal to almost 10% of total imports, against 40% of gas Russian. Meanwhile, Algiers has already promised Rome to increase its supplies by about 2 billion cubic meters to reach 30 already “in the coming months”.
The Cingolani line
But what could be the government’s line on energy policy? In addition to the moves of the Prime Minister Draghi, who flew to Brussels with the Ecological Transition Minister Roberto Cingolani to discuss a European strategy against the excessive dependence of the 27 on the import of Russian gas, some elements can be understood from the indications supplied by Cingolani himself. In an interview, the minister pointed out that it will be necessary to increase the extraction from Italian gas fields and sell renewables “at fair prices”. Cingolani explained that “it makes no sense to link the cost of renewables to gas”, which is the raw material “most expensive today” and that “a price ceiling could help”.