Italy and Congo have signed an agreement which provides for increase gas supplies from the African Republic. After the one with Angola, a new agreement has therefore arrived within the context of the strategy that the Government is pursuing for reduce our country's dependence on Russian gas.
Going into detail, Ministers Di Maio (Foreign Affairs) and Cingolani (Ecological Transition), accompanied by the CEO of Eni, Claudio Descalzi, signed a letter of intent with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Congo Jean-Claude Gakosso and the Minister of Hydrocarbons, Bruno Jean Richard Itoua establishing the increase in the production and export of gas. Following the signing, a meeting was held with the President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso. Absent the Italian Premier, Mario Draghi, in solitary confinement because he was positive for Covid.
What does the gas agreement between Italy and Congo provide?
The agreement signed by Eni establishes the acceleration and increase of gas production in Congo, primarily through the development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) with start-up expected in 2023 and fully operational capacity of over 3 million tonnes/year (over 4,5 billion cubic meters/year). “The export of LNG will make it possible to enhance the production of gas exceeding the Congolese internal demand”, reads the note released by Eni
“The Republic of Congo and Eni – continues the company – have also agreed on the definition of decarbonisation initiatives for the promotion of sustainable energy transition in the country, particularly in the areas of renewable energy, agriculture with the development of an agricultural supply chain - not in competition with the food chain - for the production of feedstock for biorefining, conservation and sustainable forest management, the adoption of clean cooking systems, the capture, use and storage of CO2”.
To date, Eni is the only company engaged in the development of Congo's gas resources and currently supplies gas to the Congo Power Station (CEC), which guarantees 70% of the country's electricity production.
Gas: now it's Mozambique's turn
After the agreements signed with Algeria and Egypt before Easter and with Congo and Angola this week, in May the representatives of the Italian Government could fly in Mozambique with the aim of signing a further agreement that will allow Italy to diversify its gas supplies, reducing its dependence on Russia.
“With Russia's aggression we have lneed to diversify our sources of supply”, which represents “a priority objective for our government” said Di Maio after the signing of the agreement. “We are building new agreements. We aim at mitigate energy costs for families and we have an energy security plan”, concluded the minister.
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