La decarbonization it's a good thing but the energy transition must be managed wisely. Even in those areas of Italy that derive economic and employment benefits from coal-mining activities. They are not just statements of principle, but political, trade union assessments, addressed to the government, committed to its green new deal.
Sardinia is now the territory of excellence for measuring the transition towards an alternative system to fossil fuels. The union, in addition to politics and entrepreneurs, wants to be the protagonist and in these hours it is the interpreter of a gradual modification of the industrial production systems. A position to be considered carefully, in the light of the many reservations expressed by many on the real success of the government's green campaign.
In addition to recent Enea data on the high levels of use of traditional sources, Sardinia has long been debating the opportunity to equip the island with a modern network of methane pipelines. Investments and politics, however, walk on different tracks. Regasification terminals are built, in many municipalities pipes are buried, a system is created around regional and state funding, but the reservations of environmentalists and grillini occasionally push to hear. The last warning to the government, but positively, considering the specificity of Sardinia, is del secretary of the CGIL Maurizio Landini, who fully embraces the need to make Sardinians use methane.
"It is an important transition element due to the specificity of Sardinia which also suffers from the delays that have accumulated over the years," he told Pula at a meeting of his organization. It is true: the island is the only Italian region where natural gas has never arrived. National and regional governments have been debating for years how to create urban transport and distribution infrastructures, always clashing over high costs.
At the start of the transition to renewables, the positions in the field became radicalized between those who say no to methane and those who - appreciating its usefulness and benefits - ask for the gas to be made available. Sardinia, on the other hand, in the middle of the transition or the Conte's green new deal 2, in a few years it should stay out of methane and coal. A paradox that obviously cannot satisfy anyone, it being well known that the use of gas will accompany the transition to renewables in a complementary way.
"Manage the energy transition from coal without questioning the possibility of development of all areas, including those of Sardinia, and focus on renewable energy and environmental sustainability," said Landini. Europe has ambitious goals that Italy must achieve without sacrificing jobs. The point, says the CGIL secretary referring to Sardinia in even more detail, is how this transition is managed considering the situation for its size, for the delays that have accumulated in recent years and for the elements of complexity that affect thousands of workers.
An analysis that can be shared in a highly changing scenario with all the risks associated with the 2030 decarbonisation goals. It is unrealistic to imagine an exit from traditional sources in a few years. Redimensioning its weight is fine, but the case of Sardinia tells us that very vast territories require traditional sources such as gas. Moreover, the Minister of the Environment has given an opinion on the compatibility of the 580 km underground pipeline project for the transport of liquefied gas. A high-tech link which, when it supplies gas to homes and businesses on the island, will save 400 million euros in energy costs.
