Claudio Descalzi, the chief executive of Italy’s energy giant Eni, remains confident that the nation will need at least two more years to fully shed dependence on Russian gas. The remarks were echoed in an interview carried by the Italian newspaper La Stampa, underscoring the scale of the transition facing Italy’s energy mix.
Descalzi stated that the replacement of Russian gas is not yet complete and will require a two-year period to achieve full substitution. The timeline he outlined reflects the incremental progress Italy has already made, as the country advances its strategy to diversify supply routes and partners while reducing exposure to a single source of natural gas.
He noted that Italy has already substituted roughly 30 of the 40 billion cubic meters previously supplied by Russia. The CEO pointed out that the path forward is complicated by the fact that domestic gas production has not been actively promoted for eight years, a gap that has contributed to the current dependence on imports and the challenge of increasing self-sufficiency.
According to Descalzi, the rapid shift away from Russian gas has been facilitated by Italy’s long-standing relationships with partner countries such as Egypt, Angola, Algeria, the Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, and Libya, where Eni maintains a strong presence for the local market. These partnerships are cited as key components of Italy’s broader strategy to strengthen energy security and diversify supply routes amid a changing global energy landscape.
The interview also touched on outlooks for the broader energy market. Descalzi suggested that, by the end of the year, the likelihood of new major global energy disruptions appearing on the horizon is relatively low, a remark that reflects a period of steadier conditions in many markets compared with past volatility. The sense is that while challenges remain, the near-term risk of sudden, sweeping catastrophes may have diminished, though the energy sector must continue to monitor geopolitical and market forces that drive prices and supply dynamics.