Italy will have a new gas pipeline: the Foligno-Sulmona. The Council of Ministers in the last meeting resolved to overcome the refusal of the Regions Abruzzo e Umbria on the gas transport infrastructure. A strategic work for the purpose of diversifying energy supply sources and routes, says a note from Palazzo Chigi. Which goes to increase what is called the "Adriatic line" of Italian gas pipelines. Within three years, at the latest, the transport of gas from entry points located in southern Italy will increase. Thus ends a story that has seen the Abruzzo Region and the local committees oppose the government and Snam, which designed the work. The President of Abruzzo Marcus Marsilius attended the government meeting the other day. At that meeting he went over the steps that had led his Region to block the project, but in the end he said he was willing to evaluate the compensatory measures to the benefit of the Region itself, given that the infrastructure will be built.
The pipeline operates strategically for Italy
The government had already prepared the decree contemplating the charges to be paid due to the crossings of the territories. One of the reasons for opposition to the project concerned the laying of pipes in protected areas and regional parks. From a technical point of view, however, there will be no consequences on the environment and on the natural balance, as has already happened for other gas pipelines in operation. A decisive role in unblocking the story was played by the Minister of Ecological Transition Roberto Cingolani who reiterated the need to have the new infrastructure available to integrate gas transport from both the North and the South in the future. There are no problems with the full storage. Specifically, the project does not concern Abruzzo or Umbria, but Italy as a whole. It is one of the five stretches that walk along the Adriatic side of the Apennines. And the work has become all the more strategic for the diversification of sources of supply outside Russia. Critics say the pipeline will be fully operational in 2027 and won't help solve Italy's energy emergency. It is known, however, that the government is studying with Snam ed Eni to use the Italian gas pipeline network for the future transport of hydrogen. A look at the future that does not sacrifice an interconnected network among the most efficient in Europe that would be able to transport the clean source. On the Foligno-Sulmona the "No Hub Gas Coordination" also disputes the cost of the work estimated at 2 billion euros. Outdated position today.
New wind, photovoltaic and geothermal plants in Puglia, Basilicata and Tuscany
Consistent with the need to hasten the diversification of sources, the Council of Ministers in the same session also gave the green light to environmental compatibility for eight projects of electricity generation plants powered by wind, photovoltaic and geothermal. In total 314 new Megawatts allocated in Puglia, Basilicata and Tuscany. A provision that follows by a few days the one on theAgrisolar of 1,5 billion euros. Specifically, work will start on the wind farms in the Municipalities of San Mauro Forte, Salandra, Garaguso, San Paolo di Civitate, Poggio Imperiale, Sant'Agata di Puglia, Candela, Venosa, Maschito. The “Copertino” agri-ovine-photovoltaic plant in the Municipalities of Copertino and Galatina and the “Cortolla” geothermal research permit in Montecatini Val di Cecina have also been approved. Extension of the environmental impact assessment was decided only for wind power in the municipalities of Muro Lucano, Bella and Balvano. But the positive decision should not be long in following up on the commitments made also in Europe on the green transition with renewable plants.
