Gas, there was an explosion in Austria in the important distribution hub of Baumgarten an der March, through which methane flows from Russia to Italy. According to Development Minister Carlo Calenda, it cannot therefore be excluded that the government decrees a state of crisis. In Austria, one person died and many were injured. The newspaper der Standard, in its online edition, speaks of 60 injured. According to the APA, which cites the Red Cross, there are 18 injured, and one victim. The causes of the explosion are not yet clear, reports Ansa.
A spokesman for the oil company OMV, which has a minority stake in the company that manages the Baumgarten site, told Reuters that the cause of the fire and possible impacts on distribution were not yet clear. The operator Gas Connect Austria says the explosion should not have an impact on gas supplies to Austria, while those to Italy could be reduced.
"No effects are expected for Austria at the moment," said a spokesman. “There may be restrictions on deliveries to Italy, but it must be checked”.
On the other hand, the impact on prices was immediate. According to industry sources reported by Il Sole 24 Ore, gas supplies have in fact already been temporarily interrupted. The wholesale price of gas in Italy has soared by 87% to 44,50 euros per megawatt hour. The prices of gas traded on the British market also increased sharply (+32%, the highest level since 2013). However, this shouldn't create problems for supply management in Italy thanks to stocks that accumulate gas precisely to deal with surges or sudden shortages of raw materials. Snam also confirms this with its press release.
However, Development Minister Calenda expresses concern. "If we had the Tap – the gas pipeline which will also bring Caspian gas to Italy and which is opposed and blocked by Puglia, ed – we should not declare, as we will do today, a state of gas emergency due to the accident in Austria», said the Minister of Economic Development Carlo Calenda. «This means that we have a serious problem of dependence on Russia as regards gas supplies. And in Puglia there are those who wage war on the TAP, even invoking sabotage, with the governor Emiliano who, even there, appealed to the TAR and lost it ».
Snam has released a press release reassuring the situation in Italy: “Following the accident that occurred in a section of the network in Austria managed by the operator Gas Connect, the flow of gas imports from Russia was temporarily interrupted. On the basis of the information currently confirmed, the first indications on the absence of damage to the transport infrastructures. In the meantime, the security of the Italian system is guaranteed by the storage facilities made available by Snam. As expected in these situations, the Ministry of Economic Development has declared a state of emergency."
The Ministry of Development has declared a state of crisis and confirmed that supplies to Italy are currently covered by stocks. Meanwhile, the situation is "constantly monitored in contact with the operators concerned in order to verify the time necessary for the resumption of flows".
