The gas challenge. Chicco Testa: “Free from Moscow in 5 years. But how much time lost”

“It will take Italy five years to become independent of Russian gas”. The goal, therefore, is not around the corner, according to Chicco Testa, an energy manager. That he complains: “How much time wasted”. Test, we import 40% of our needs from Moscow: is it not wrong to tie ourselves to one country in this way? “In hindsight it is easy to say. Russia appeared to be a reliable partner. However, we have failed to comply with one of the precepts of national energy policy since the 1973 crisis: diversification of fuels and import countries”. Draghi flew to Algeria to boost the flow of the Transmed. How much new gas can we import by exploiting the pipelines in operation? “A few billion cubic meters with TAP and about ten from Algeria. But the problem is another: Algeria, these 10 billion cubic meters, does not have them. Investments are needed to extract it and I don’t know how long it will take. “. On the other hand, what are the times to increase imports via Tap? “Two-three billion cubic meters can be obtained immediately. To double the pipeline, on the other hand, it takes three or four years. If I think back to that project …”. Which? “There was talk of making Italy the southern gas hub, but the 5 Stars and the governor of Puglia, Emiliano, got in the way. How much time was lost. They also opposed the regasification plants”. By the way, is US liquid gas a viable alternative? “Yes. If anything, the problem is the insufficient capacity of the existing regasifiers. They need others to be able to exploit the 10 billion cubic meters that could arrive from America”. It is a more expensive gas than the Russian one. Is it worth giving up favorable conditions for geopolitical reasons? “Absolutely yes. We cannot give (at European level, ed.) A billion a day to Putin”. What other alternatives do we have for getting energy? “We need more courage …