Snam has signed an agreement with socar, a state-owned energy company of Azerbaijan. The collaboration aims to find more efficient solutions for the use of renewable gases and sustainable energy, also with the prospect of using new technologies in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), of which its companies are shareholders with 20% each.
The protocol was signed in Rome on Thursday 20 February. Also present at the appointment were the head of the Italian government, Giuseppe Conte, and the president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.
In detail, the agreement is divided into three fronts, all connected to the energy transition and the circular economy:
- research into biogas and biomethane, with the possible construction of anaerobic digestion plants (the project and works would be the responsibility of IES Biogas, controlled by Snam, while Socar would limit itself to financial support);
- promotion of sustainable mobility using compressed natural gas (Cng), liquefied natural gas (Lng) and hydrogen (H2) through the construction of new distribution plants (in this case Cubogas, another company owned by the Italian group, would be involved). It is also possible to start partnerships with car manufacturers and to develop the retrofit market;
- study of the opportunities for the development of hydrogen and associated infrastructure.
"With this project, Snam and Socar want to contribute to the energy transition and the circular economy in Azerbaijan, strengthening collaboration with Italy - comments Marco Alverà, CEO of Snam - Furthermore, with the development of biomethane and hydrogen, new paths could open up interesting for the use of renewable gases along the Southern Corridor and therefore in the TAP, bringing new advantages in terms of environmental sustainability as well as benefits in terms of security and flexibility of supplies".
Rovnag Abdullayev, president of Socar, underlined instead that the Azerbaijani company “is taking important initiatives to minimize the environmental impact of its activities. The agreement with Snam is a significant step towards the sustainability of the energy sector, the development of a greener economy and the fight against climate change".
