The visit of Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi in Algeria concluded in the signing of an agreement to obtain an increase in deliveries of Algerian gas to Italy to free itself from dependence on Russia.
Algeria, one of the leading trading partners of Italy, is its second supplier of gas. Being number one, Russia supplies 45% of gas imports of the peninsula.
"Immediately after the invasion of Ukraine, I announced that Italy would act with the utmost speed to reduce its dependence on Russian gas. Our governments have signed a declaration of intent on bilateral cooperation in the energy sector. In addition to that, there is the agreement between Eni and Sonatrach to increase gas exports to Italy," said Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
Italy imports about 95% of the gas it consumes and 42% of its energy consumption comes from this fuel. The country is highly dependent on Russian gas.
In late February, the Algerian state-owned hydrocarbon giant Sonatrach said it was ready to supply more gas to Europe, including through the Transmed pipeline linking Algeria to Italy via Tunisia.
On the same day, EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, together with France, Italy, Portugal and Spain's ambassadors, visited Monday the headquarters of the NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) and met with the company's management. They discussed the possibilities of expanding Nigeria's gas export.
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