In Italy, a floating regasification unit stirs up controversy

The arrival of a floating regasification unit in Italy is divisive. While the Italian government is highlighting the benefits in terms of energy autonomy, environmental groups are expressing concerns about safety and environmental risks.
RWE Clean Energy - 2023-03-21T113349.109

In Italy, a floating regasification unit, the Golar Tundra, arrived Sunday evening in the port of Piombino from Singapore. This installation is considered crucial for the country’s energy security and should reduce Italy’s dependence on Russian gas.

A floating regasification unit to strengthen Italy’s energy autonomy

The Golar Tundra, a floating regasification unit, was purchased by the Snam Group in June 2022 for 330 million euros. This facility will be able to re-gas liquefy natural gas (LNG) transported by sea, which will then be injected into the national gas supply network of the peninsula. This floating unit can store 170,000 cubic meters of LNG, which should guarantee 5 billion cubic meters of gas per year. It should be operational from May 2023, said Stefano Venier, the head of the Snam Group.

The Italian government has put in place a strategy to reduce the country’s dependence on Russian gas, signing several new gas supply contracts with countries such as Algeria and Libya. The Minister of Enterprise, Adolfo Urso, said on Radio 24 that “our program to allow Italy to free itself completely by the end of the year from dependence on Russian gas has been met. The port of Piombino, where the floating regasification unit arrived, will be used to supply gas to the highly industrialized north of the country.

Protests from the local population

Despite the energy stakes for Italy, the arrival of the floating regasification unit has sparked protests among the local population. Environmental groups are concerned that the project will slow the country’s transition to renewable energy.

Francesca Marino, a member of the Committee against the regasifier, is concerned about possible accidents, saying that “this ship is dangerous because it is close to homes. Local residents have also expressed concerns about safety risks. However, according to the Italian government, this facility is temporary and will be moved after three years.

A temporary facility to meet Italy’s energy challenges

The president of the Tuscany region, Eugenio Giani, expressed his satisfaction with the arrival of the new floating regasification unit, saying that the amount of liquefied natural gas it will produce (five billion cubic meters) will contribute to the energy self-sufficiency of Italy. According to Snam, the group that owns Golar Tundra, this amount of gas represents about 6.5% of the country’s total gas needs. Last June, the group acquired this facility for 330 million euros from Golar LNG.

Dans cet article :​
Articles qui pourraient vous intéresser ​

France to supply nuclear fuel to Slovakia

Thursday 1 June 2023

Slovakia is seeking to reduce its dependence on Russia for nuclear fuel supplies. With this in mind, the French company Framatome has undertaken to supply nuclear fuel similar to that manufactured by Russia, to power Slovakia’s Soviet-designed nuclear power plant. This initiative is part of an international context in which many European VVER plant operators are seeking to develop a sovereign European energy solution.

Stellantis to supply Mulhouse plant with geothermal energy

Thursday 1 June 2023

Stellantis embarks on a promising initiative in partnership with Vulcan to integrate renewable geothermal energy at its Mulhouse plant. This collaboration aims to reduce the plant’s carbon footprint while exploring the possibility of extracting lithium from geothermal water.

TotalEnergies: request to the courts to suspend future fossil fuel projects

Thursday 1 June 2023

Oil giant TotalEnergies is facing a coalition of NGOs and local authorities, including the cities of Paris and New York, calling for a halt to all new hydrocarbon projects worldwide. This request, deemed “unfair” by TotalEnergies, is a provisional measure pending the court’s ruling on the obligation to align the Group’s climate strategy with the Paris Agreement. The coalition cites scientific and institutional reports in support of its claim, while TotalEnergies defends its climate strategy and warns of the consequences of suspending the projects. This case illustrates the growing tensions between the oil industry and climate advocates, and could set a major legal precedent.

France: CGT accuses GRDF of discriminatory dismissals in the Paris region

Thursday 1 June 2023

The CGT denounces discriminatory dismissals at GRDF, the gas distributor. Disciplinary actions targeting unionized agents have been unveiled, with accusations of racial and gender discrimination. GRDF’s management denies these allegations, claiming that the dismissals are justified by wrongdoing. The CGT plans to mobilize and pursue legal action to challenge these decisions.

Siemens Energy plans to focus on U.S. power grids to capitalize on IRA momentum

Wednesday 31 May 2023

Siemens Energy plans to strengthen its presence in the United States to seize opportunities in renewable energies and hydrogen. Favorable regulations and growing demand in these sectors are prompting the company to consider setting up local production. As the U.S. and Europe compete for investment, Siemens Energy is exploring new opportunities while ensuring a balance between the U.S. and European markets. The expansion of electrolyser capacity at the Berlin plant and the growing interest of American customers testify to the boom in commercial hydrogen projects in the United States.

RWE announces carbon capture projects to decarbonize energy in the UK

Monday 29 May 2023

RWE, the UK’s leading electricity producer, is firmly committed to the decarbonization of energy by developing RWE’s ambitious carbon capture projects, aimed at reducing CO2 emissions, ensuring energy security and supporting the transition to cleaner energy. These initiatives demonstrate RWE’s commitment to a sustainable energy future.

Dernières Nouvelles