Italy Resorts to Algeria Natural Gas to Face Freezing Wave Hitting Europe

Italy is planning increasing its natural gas imports from Algeria to meet the soaring local need provoked by the freezing wave sweeping on Europe, Italy Minister of Economy Development and Facilities, Corrado Passera, said on Monday.

“The following up committee on energy of the Ministry of Economy Development and Facilities is constantly observe our country’s gas supply needs, amid the exceptional freezing wave hitting Europe,” Mr Passera was quoted as saying by local media.

“Some surveys suggest that Italy’s gas consummation is yet to soar and hit unprecedented level of 440 million cubic meters per day,” he estimated.

He further added that Italy will increase its gas imports, resorting to Algeria and northern Europe countries to face up the temporary gas supply drop from Russia.

Earlier, the Russian official Interfax news agency reported that the Russian giant Gasprom has dropped gas supply to Europe to normal level, because it is incapable to meet the increasing needs of European countries amid the severe bad weather hitting the region.

Algeria is the largest natural gas supplier to Italy, as it assures between 32 and 37 percent of the European nation’s local needs, comparing to 27 percent provided by Russia.