Italy fully supports EU efforts in order to stop Russian gas imports before 2027

The Italian energy minister said to reporters that Rome fully supports the European Union's efforts to stop Russian gas imported into the EU by 2027. He added that any decision by Rome to increase LNG imports from America is up to private purchasers.

The minister stated that Italy imported only a small amount of Russian gas last year, which was mostly exported to Austria. He added that the country is now independent from Moscow's supplies.

Pichetto fratin, along with Teresa Ribera (Commissioner for Competition of the European Union), said at a Rome press conference that "Italy supports this effort fully".

This month, the EU announced

It would be a good idea to propose

Legal measures will be taken to end imports of Russian LNG and gas by the year 2027. This will bring an end to a long-standing energy relationship that was shattered after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February of 2022.

In April, I visited Washington.

Pichetto, the Italian Minister of Energy, said that any purchase made should be at competitive prices.

Pichetto stated that "the fact that we now have increased capacity for regasification means that it's possible to purchase more LNG, if the price is competitive with that of (gas delivered via pipeline)", he said.

Nevertheless, he added that U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is currently offered at high rates when it reaches Europe.

He asked, "How can it be that American gas leaves Florida's shores at only $10-12 per megawatt-hour (MWh)?" .... and it arrives at the shores in Portugal for $36 per megawatt hour? "This is a part of the bargaining between private operators, not between states". Reporting by Angelo Amante, Francesca Landini and Ed Osmond; Editing by Ed Osmond

(source: Reuters)