Energy security: what is the outlook beyond the emergency?

Read the report’s key messages and download the document for further information.

• The current international situation has brought energy security back centre stage, as we grapple with the issues of foreign dependence and the drive for energy transition.
• Italy, which imports almost three quarters of its energy, is among the countries most dependent on foreign energy, with a value higher than the EU average (57%).
• Our supply is also highly concentrated in a limited number of countries with high geopolitical risk profiles.
• Supplies from abroad are ensured by five pipelines with six entry points into the national network and three regasification terminals, which together guarantee a nominal import capacity of around 130 billion cubic metres per year.
• Although the rate of infrastructure utilisation in recent years has been below 60%, in the most recent security of supply simulations, Italy is close to the critical inadequacy threshold.
• Phenomena such as technical plant characteristics, progressive deposit depletion in some strategic areas and difficulties linked to the full exercise of some supply contracts, have negatively impacted the Italian system.
• Italy must face the challenge of replacing approximately 30 billion cubic metres of Russian gas per year. Three feasible ways have been identified that would be suitable to meet this objective:
  • Full storage capacity utilisation in the very short term;
  • Increasing TAP transport capacity and the effective use of existing pipelines in North Africa;
  • reinforcing regasification capacity to allow for a shift of gas imports towards LNG in the short to medium term.
• Italy could emerge from this in a strategic position with respect to the Mediterranean and Europe. An adequate infrastructure expansion could make our country the access hub for natural gas, and in the future for hydrogen, at EU level.