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Italy faces strategic choices

In Italy, the city of Piombino is taking legal action against a government-backed LNG terminal project.

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In Italy, the city of Piombino is taking legal action against a government-backed LNG terminal project.

A precautionary suspension

In Italy, the city of Piombino is taking legal action against the LNG project in the port. The appeal to an administrative court includes a request to apply the precautionary principle to suspend the work. Specifically, it concerns the implementation of the floating LNG storage and re-gasification unit (FSRU).

The municipality adds that it is confident that the judges would rule quickly on this request. The mayor is leading local protests against the project. Thus, the mayor of Piombino, Francesco Ferrari, states:

“We are aware of the energy emergency and that new gas supply measures are in the national interest, but this can not ignore the security guarantees for the community of Piombino.

The Italian gas network operator Snam is already starting its preliminary operations in Piombino. However, it has not yet begun work on the construction of the gas pipeline that will connect the FSRU to the gas network. Opponents were protesting against the risks to safety, the environment and local fish farming.

An Italian context

Mr. Ferrari is a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party. The government is pushing for the construction of the floating LNG terminal. Indeed, the plans are aimed at diversifying Italy’s energy supplies following Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The terminal should be operational by the end of March. This will help Italy replace Russian gas supplies, says Claudio Descalzi, CEO of energy group Eni. He added that the timely completion of the project is crucial to fill the country’s gas stocks by next winter.

Last year, Russia supplied 38% of Italy’s total gas consumption. While this year, Algeria has become the main supplier of fuel to Rome. Rome expects to receive more than 8 billion cubic meters of additional LNG, mainly from African countries.

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