Report: Italy to reject Russian gas in 2023, to become gas exporter

ROME, Feb 13 (PRIME) -- Italy should be able to reject imports of Russian natural gas in 2023 and to become a gas exporter as a result of new supply routes, Minister of Enterprises and of the Made in Italy Adolfo Urso said in an interview to daily il Messaggero published on Monday.

“We will get rid of gas supplies from Russia this year. … Starting from next year, we will be able to supply gas to other countries and we will soon turn into Europe’s gas hub as a result of doubling of supplies through the TAP (pipeline),” Urso said.

In 2022, Russia’s share on the gas market of Italy fell to 16% from 40%, and two LNG regasification terminals that Italy plans to launch before this summer should produce 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year, the same amount that Rome imported from Russia last year, he said.

Previously, the Italian government said that the fuel economy measures and new energy supply routes would make the country independent from Russian gas in July–December 2024.

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