In Piombino, Italy, the administrative court rejects a request for a preventive halt to work on a new LNG terminal.
Ongoing litigation
In Piombino, it is a precautionary shutdown of work on a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal run by Snam. The court’s decision states that this work does not pose an immediate threat to public safety. On the other hand, the municipality and Rome consider this project essential to wean themselves off Russian gas.
This precautionary application includes the works for the installation of the floating LNG storage and regasification unit (FSRU). The mayor of Piombino, Francesco Ferrari, states:
“We will consider further actions against Snam’s management of the construction sites that have already begun.”
The court schedules a new hearing on March 8.
An economic necessity
This new judicial meeting will evaluate the longer term security consequences of the floating terminal. The Italian gas network operator Snam bought the LNG carrier this summer. In addition, it is in charge of the entire project, including its connection to the national gas network.
In addition, Snam will also operate the Piombino terminal. The infrastructure will be operational by April. According to the special government commissioner for the project:
“It is in the general interest to install the terminal in the port of Piombino.”
The Piombino terminal will have a capacity of 5 billion cubic meters compared to the 17Gm3 currently produced by the other three Italian terminals.
