In Europe and Italy US shale gas it could only arrive in five years, but for next winter there will be no problems, even if Russia decides to turn off the taps. Carlo Malacarne, managing director of Snam rete gas, said it today during the meeting that approved the 2013 financial statements.
“We consider liquefied natural gas important, but for the past two years prices have been three times higher in Asia than in Europe – specified the manager -. For this reason commercial operators prefer to bring it to Southeast Asia and not in Italian, Spanish or European plants. This is the reason why only one ship arrived at the Panigaglia plant compared to the 10-12 ships that normally arrived”.
Malacarne then underlined that “in order to change this trend of gas, which today goes towards Asia, much more liquid gas will be needed on the market. With the plants under construction in the USA to make it liquid, before five years, I don't think there is the possibility of starting imports, once a decision has been made to do so".
As for the possible cutting of supplies from Moscow, “since winter has passed, there is no direct impact from the possible lack of Russian gas – continued Snam's number one -. The focus now is on filling the warehouses in the summer period, because we have to arrive in November with the warehouses full to have the same safety as last winter".
