RT.com
05 Dec 2022, 11:01 GMT+10
The EU nation is not self-sufficient enough to stop the purchases for now, the energy minister says
Italy is still reliant on Russian natural gas, which it continues to import despite calls in the EU for a ban, according to Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin.
In an interview with La Stampa daily, he said 250 million cubic meters (mcm) of gas entered Italy the previous day, including 90 mcm from Algeria, which has become the country's "main supplier."
The minister added that 30 mcm are still coming from Russia, with the average daily volume from the sanctioned country reaching around 20 mcm.
"Fortunately, another 25 million cubic meters come via Trans Adriatic Gas Pipeline, about 10 million cubic meters from Norway, and 45 million cubic meters of liquefied gas load at our regasification terminals," the energy minister explained.
He compared Italy's energy transition plan to a "reversal of the hourglass that leads us to have to search in the South for the gas that previously came from the North and which in the future can also put Italy in a position of advantage over other European countries."
"We haven't overturned the hourglass yet; Russia continues to have an interest in exporting gas and we are not in a condition of self-sufficiency. We're not out of the tunnel yet," he stressed.
According to Pichetto Fratin, Italy will make it through this winter, "but the concern remains strong because from May we have to fill the stocks to cover the next winter season, and this is a difficult undertaking."
Italy, along with other EU countries, has been battling record-high inflation, driven largely by rising energy costs. The country relies on imports for nearly 75% of its energy. At the start of this year, it was receiving 40% of its gas from Russia, but the imports later plunged due to sanctions on Moscow and the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline.
In October, energy group Eni said that Russia now accounts for only around 10% of Italy's gas imports.
For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section
Get a daily dose of International Travel News news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to International Travel News.
More InformationMILAN, Italy: Italian regulators have flagged four non-EU countries—including Russia—as carrying systemic financial risk for domestic...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: With just weeks to spare before a potential government default, U.S. lawmakers passed a sweeping tax and spending...
PARIS, France: Fast-fashion giant Shein has been fined 40 million euros by France's antitrust authority over deceptive discount practices...
PALO ALTO/TEL AVIV: The battle for top AI talent has claimed another high-profile casualty—this time at Safe Superintelligence (SSI),...
FRANKLIN, Tennessee: Hundreds of thousands of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are being recalled across the United States due to a potential...
REDMOND, Washington: Microsoft is the latest tech giant to announce significant job cuts, as the financial strain of building next-generation...
KABUL, Afghanistan: Afghanistan, long associated with war and instability, is quietly trying to rebrand itself as a destination for...
New Delhi [India], July 6 (ANI): A grand jungle safari project coming up in the Aravalli Hills is going to redefine Haryana's identity....
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 6 (ANI): British F-35B fighter jet, stuck at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for...
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 6 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday urged the Central...
Dehradun (Uttarakhand)[India], July 6(ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday conducted an aerial survey of...
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 6 (ANI): Union Minister Piyush Goyal enjoyed a 'shikara' ride on Dal Lake during his visit...