Mario Draghi plans to quickly reduce Italy's dependence on Russian gas
The head of the Italian government Mario Draghi after a speech on the situation in Ukraine at the Palazzo Chigi in Rome, February 24, 2022. AFP - REMO CASILLI
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In the light of the strongly condemned Russian invasion of Ukraine, the President of the Council, Mario Draghi, pointed to "
the bad choices of the past
" which make the peninsula very vulnerable in terms of energy.
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Did Italy make serious mistakes by abandoning nuclear power in 1987, following a referendum, then gradually eliminating coal?
This is what the President of the Council, Mario Draghi, believes.
"
The events of these days show the recklessness of not having further diversified our energy sources and suppliers over the past decades
," he admitted to the deputies.
Currently, Italy imports 90% of the gas it consumes and produces 60% of the electricity using gas.
However, almost half of its supplies come from Russia.
By adding the rise in inflation, never reached since 2012, and the explosion in the cost of raw materials,
electricity and gas bills
have increased by 55% and 42% respectively, recalls our correspondent in Rome,
Anne The Nir
.
Unsustainable increases for businesses, local authorities and households even if the State has already disbursed 15 billion euros in aid.
The government says it is ready to take other support measures.
But he also intends to implement a new energy policy.
Diversify energy sources
Mario Draghi undertakes to simplify the procedures for the production of renewable energies which, to date, cover a third of electricity consumption.
"
We must act as quickly as possible on the diversification front, to overcome our vulnerability
" and "
avoid the risk of future crises
", he insisted.
According to the head of government, Rome "
is trying to increase alternative supplies
" by increasing imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States, after a proposal to this effect from American President Joe Biden.
Italy could also increase its
gas deliveries from Azerbaijan
, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.
Another option, “
the reopening of coal-fired power plants could be necessary to fill a possible shortage in the immediate future
”, he argued.
Clarification on sanctions
Concerning the sanctions against Russia, "
Italy is perfectly in phase with the other countries of the European Union, first and foremost France and Germany
", underlined Mario Draghi.
Assuring that Italy was ready to take even tougher measures if necessary.
A clarification that comes after a certain hesitation in recent days and in particular the announcement last week of an upcoming trip by Mario Draghi to Moscow, a project that has since been abandoned.
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To listen and read also: American alternatives to Russian gas for Europeans
(and with
AFP
)
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