Premier Mario Draghi on Monday signed
a declaration of intent with Algerian President Abdelmadjid
Tebboune on bilateral cooperation on energy and gas to ease
Rome's reliance on Russian gas amid the Ukraine war.
To this was added a deal between Italian fuels giant Eni and its
Algerian counterpart Sonatrach "to increase gas exports to
Italy", the premier said.
he said the deals amounted to a "significant response to our
reliance on Russian gas.
"Immediately after the invasion of Ukraine, I had announced that
Italy would move swiftly to reduce our reliance on Russian gas.
Today's accords are a significant response to this strategic
goal, and they will be followed by others.
"The government wants to defend its citizens and businesses from
the consequences of the conflict. I want to thank ministers Di
Maio and Cingolani and Eni for their work on this front."
"Italy is ready to work with Algeria to develop renewable
energies and green hydrogen," Draghi went on.
"We want to accelerate the energy transition and create
opportunities for development and employment".
Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi
signed gas deals with Algeria aimed at weaning Italy off Russian
gas, which amounts to 40% of its total supplies.
Draghi said deep ties with Algeria had been boosted Monday and
that late Eni chief Enrico Mattei had been "a great protagonist
of the collaboration between our two countries".
At a meeting in Algiers, Di Maio met his Algerian counterpart
Ramtane Lamamra while Descalzi met the top brass of Algerian gas
company Sonatrach, and Ecological Tranbsirion Minister Roberto
Cingolani met corresponding Algerian officials.
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