Italy says it is ready to support sanctions against russian LNG

The Italian government has stated that the country has refused to buy russian natural gas and will not have any problems with the proposed package of EU sanctions on liquefied natural gas (LNG) being considered by the European Commission.

This was stated by Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Piquetto-Fratin.

At the time of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Italy was one of the most dependent countries on russian gas. But it proved to be surprisingly quick and flexible in diversifying its supplies by building a pipeline from Algeria and increasing its LNG import capacity.

According to official data, last year, supplies from russia accounted for less than 5% of Italy's total gas imports, compared to 43% in 2020.

"Italy is now in such a state that it can even do without russian gas completely," the minister said.

Piquetto-Fratin pointed out that Italy has sufficient gas reserves "to be calm".

Therefore, he said, Italy "has no reason to oppose the process of imposing new sanctions" on russian LNG.

Source: Politico