Premier Giorgia Meloni stressed the
importance of having an "energy mix" on Monday during a visit to
Algeria to sign more agreements to strengthen Italy's
partnership in this sphere with the North African country.
Italy has struck deals with several countries to boost
alternative sources of energy since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine
and Algeria has replaced Russia as Italy's biggest supplier of
gas.
"Today Algeria is a our main gas supplier," Meloni said.
"Two agreements have been signed by (Italian energy giant) Eni
and its Algerian counterpart.
"An agreement to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, so one that is
for sustainable development.
"Another to increase Algeria's gas exports to Italy and the EU,
the development of a new pipeline for hydrogen and the
possibility to have liquefied gas.
"In short, it is a energy-mix mechanism that we have identified
as a possible solution to the ongoing crisis".
Italy should have weaned itself off its reliance on Russian gas
imports by the winter of 2024-25, Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said
during the visit.
"I am optimistic we will be able to being down Russian supplies
of gas to zero in the winter of 2024-2025," Descalzi said.
"I'd say that, if we continue as we are, things will go in the
right direction".
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