Italy turns to Libya to replace Russian energy supply

Italian Ecology Transition Minister Roberto Cingolani has indicated that Rome will conclude its first deal to obtain more gas from Libya and other suppliers, to replace Russian flows in the coming weeks.

“A series of talks are underway … in the next few weeks, we will close the first agreements,” Cingolani said in an online conference, Reuters reported.

Italy according to Cingolani plans to get an extra 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas from pipelines to Algeria, Libya, and Azerbaijan this year.

Rome is expected to double the procurement from Libya by 2024 as part of efforts to find alternatives and diversify its supply mix following the Russia-Ukraine war.
Russia supplies 40 per cent of Italy’s gas needs. As of now, Libya’s gas only accounts for 2.5% of Italy’s total daily demand.