Italy is giving the green light to the new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Tuscan port of Piombino. The project is expected to begin early next week. Rome hopes that it can begin delivering gas in the spring of 2023.
A new terminal
Italy aims to replace Russian gas supplies, which are declining with the invasion of Ukraine. The infrastructure is part of the plan of the outgoing government of Prime Minister Mario Draghi. In fact, last year, Russia covered 38% of the country’s needs.
The gas network operator Snam is buying a new floating storage and regasification unit in June. The Italian company is committed to making it operational by the end of March. However, the project, with a capacity of 5 billion cubic meters, is facing difficulties.
A criticized decision
Italy’s project is facing strong opposition from local and environmental associations. The mayor of Piombino, Francesco Ferrari, is concerned about the potential negative impacts on the environment and the health risks for the population. Similarly, other critics say the large-scale project risks keeping Italy hooked on gas longer.
For some, this attachment to gas slows down the Italian transition to renewable energy. After a meeting, the mayor said he would challenge the LNG approval decision in court. However, Eugenio Giani, European Commissioner adds, that the authorization is accompanied by environmental and safety conditions.
