THEItaly sign withAlgeria 5 chords. North African gas is crucial in the energy supply strategy for theItaly, as part of the process of release from supplies of Russian gas: in the first half of 2022 Algeria became the first supplier of natural gas and in December the Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared the commitment made with Rome to increase gas supplies from the current 20 "to at least 35 billion cubic metres".
The file the energy is therefore at the heart of the two-day mission of Giorgia Meloni underway in Algiers, his first official visit to the North African country during which important cooperation agreements were signed. Even the former Prime Minister Mario Draghi went twice during his mandate, closing once set of chords with Algeria to allow up to a third of Russia's methane to be replaced. Furthermore, the joint declaration was signed to strengthen relations between the two countries to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the friendship treaty between Italy and Algeria, signed on 27 January 2003. “We celebrate the anniversary by signing a joint declaration which underlines the excellence of our relationships, but we don't want to stop here,” said Giorgia Meloni.
Descalzi positive: "No more Russian gas from 2024-2025"
“The forecasts for eliminating supplies of Russian gas to Italy? I'm positive, inwinter 2024-2025I would say that by continuing like this things are going in the right direction”. Eni's CEO said so Claudio Descalzi, on the sidelines of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's visit to Algiers. Italy will thus be able to satisfy its national needs, and also to supply other European countries. And within five years, deliver up to 60 billion cubic meters of gas to the rest of the European partners. Speaking of gas supplies from Algeria, Claudio Descalzi added: "We update the agreements annually on the quantities that have been respected: more than 3 billion cubic meters have been given and another 3 billion in 2023 and then more". “We have to think – he concluded – that just 2 years ago Algeria gave Italy around 21 billion cubic metres, now it has given 25 billion, we will reach 28 billion next year and then in 24-25 we will exceed it again. It really is a strategic partner who is helping Italy a lot”.
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How much Russian gas arrives in Italy? And how did we replace it?
2022 was a historic year for Russian gas imports into our country, which fell to the lowest point since 1990. As reported by Il Sole 24 Ore, the share fell by 61% to 11,2 billion cubic meters from over 29 billions in 2021. But where did we get the gas from? The flow from Algeria grew by 12%, going from 21,2 to 25 billion cubic meters in the space of two years (although it had promised 27). while theAzerbaijan, the third country for the quantity of imported gas, has increased its exports to our country, passing in 2022 to a supply of 10,2 billion cubic meters, against 7,2 in 2021 (+41%). For smaller shares, we took gas from Holland e Norway with a growth of 241%: from 2,2 billion cubic meters in 2021 to 7,4 in 2022. And also the liquefied natural gas, transported by ship and not by pipeline, has played its part. Natural gas can be liquefied through a specific cooling process which involves a considerable reduction in volume, for this reason a plant is needed which allows it to be brought back to its aeriform state, i.e. the regasifier. To Panigaglia (La Spezia) doubled its capacity in 2022 going from 1,1 to 2,2 billion cubic meters of processed gas (+102%) while that of Livorno received 2,2 billion cubic meters in 2022 against 1,4 the previous year (+70%).
For 2023, Stefano Venier, CEO of Snam, announced that the regasification terminal of Piombino it will be operational by May, even if the city municipality has announced a possible new appeal to the TAR. While for that of Ravenna we will have to wait until the summer of 2024.
Italy-Algeria: 5 agreements on gas and more
“Two agreements have been signed by Eni and its Algerian counterpart, one agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, therefore for sustainable development, and the other is to achieve an increase in gas exports from Algeria to Italy and the EU, the construction of a new hydrogen gas pipeline, the possibility of making liquefied gas, in short, an energy mix mechanism that we identify as a possible solution to the current crisis”, continued Meloni.
In addition to the hot topic of energy have also been initialed agreements on the automotive and industry. And also a memorandum of understanding between the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL)
“We want to experiment with new fields of this collaboration, strengthen it in the energy, political and cultural fields. We are aiming for a partnership to increase growth prospects, with a view to building bridges between the shores of the Mediterranean and stabilizing the region, which is strategic for Italy and Europe”, continued the premier.
A mission, which in addition to bringing home various agreements, has allowed the launch of the "Mattei plan” for Africa, the idea with which the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni aims to make Italy Mediterranean energy hub, decisive bridge between Africa and Europe.
Italy signs agreements with Algeria and Meloni launches the "Piano Mattei"
The Italian prime minister aims to make our country the European hub for energy, primarily gas, but also green hydrogen. There must be a direct relationship between the producing country and the consuming country. But how? In addition to the increase in imports of liquid gas from Egypt through TAP and from Angola and the Congo, the main aim is to increase imports from Algeria, both through the Transmed (which crosses Tunisia and lands in Sicily) and through the new one Galsi pipeline, which should connect Algeria with Sardinia and from there to Livorno and then to Germany. "A very important project", underlined the Algerian president at a press conference.
