roadmap to end Energy dependency of the European Union Russia passing North Africa. This is what Italian diplomacy believes more and more clearly. The first to implement this strategy was former Prime Minister Mario Draghi. But his successor is walking the same path. This is what Giorgia Meloni herself has been making clear lately. He travelled Algeria Y Libya to provide new supply gas.
The last visit of the President was exactly last weekend. tripoli. And even though there is a discussion on the table about immigrant boats going from this country to Italy, economic target the main reason for the relocation was: to participate in the conclusion of a contract New agreement between Italian oil company ENI and its local counterpart NOC will increase shipments to Italy (currently flowing through a pipeline called) Green Streambuilt 20 years ago).
The deal is not small. As reported by ENI and NOC, the two companies discover two new deposits It is estimated that they will reach the ‘offshore’ where they will start production in 2026. 21.2 million cubic meters of gas combined produced per day. To achieve this goal, Italy, investment capital letters 8,000 million dollarsThat ENI will allocate to this project in Libya. It is currently the fifth country in Africa in terms of gas reserves after Nigeria, Algeria, Mozambique and Egypt, but has recently reduced its exports due to the increase in domestic demand.
submarine pipeline
“Cooperation In the energy field between Italy and Libya Antique‘, he continued, stressing Meloni as he spoke from Tripoli. Strong ties with Rome After independence in 1951.”ENI has been here since 1959and indeed these years have contributed to an important part of Libyan history, to the economic development of Libya.”
Meloni last week AlgeriaIt is a country where Italy has intensified its relations in recent months as a result of disagreements between Algeria and Madrid over Spain’s stance on the conflict in Western Sahara. The Transalpine politician came to sign an agreement that provides for the construction of a gas pipeline between the two countries to increase gas exports and also to send hydrogen, ammonia and even electricity to Italy.
This project is not to be underestimated. would be one underwater channel 284 kilometers It is reached from the Algiers port of Koudiet Draouche, with a length of 2,880 meters and a maximum depth of 2,880 meters. Sardinian city of Olbia. From there, it is intended to connect it to another gas pipeline that will reach the town of Piombo in Tuscany (centre) and still need to be built.
Algeria ally
These moves confirm what some analysts have been saying for weeks; is this Rome aims to be a gas source Taking advantage of the EU, advantageous geographic location. This is how Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune sees the situation. Speaking on the sidelines of the press conference where the new agreement was announced, the Algerian leader said, “It is an important project that makes Italy the energy distributor of all of Europe.”
the truth is that Algeria became Italy’s main gas supplier last year and key ally of Rome For Italy’s strategy to reduce dependence on Moscow. In fact, the Alpine country, which imported 40% of the gas it consumed from Russia before the Ukrainian war, currently imports 40% Argelia (previously 22%), the amount from Moscow is now less than half of what it imported a year ago.
It is mainly due to Agreements signed by Draghi In 2022, Meloni no longer only maintains continuity, but also wants to make it her own. So much so that he christened his strategy the ‘Mattei plan’ (after Enrico Mattei, a historic ENI executive who died in obscure circumstances in 1953). A bridge between the Maghreb and the EU. Time will tell if geopolitics justifies him.
Source: Informacion
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