Italy Signs Angolan gas deal amid Russia tension
Italy penned a deal with Angola to ramp up gas supplies from the southern African country as it urgently scrambles to break away from Russian gas over the Ukraine war.
A declaration of intent was signed to develop ‘new’ natural gas ventures and to increase exports to Italy, Italian foreign minister said.
“Today we have reached another important agreement with Angola to increase gas supplies,” Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said.
“Italy’s commitment to differentiate energy supply sources is confirmed,” said Di Maio at the long visit to Luanda, Angola’s Capital.
Diversification
Prime Minister Mario Draghi wants to add Angola and Congo-Brazzaville to a portfolio of suppliers to substitute Russia, which provides about 45 percent of Italian gas.
“We do not want to depend on Russian gas any longer, because economic dependence must not become political subjection,” he said.
“Diversification is possible and can be implemented in a relatively short amount of time, quicker than we imagined just a month ago,” he said.
Draghi was due to go himself but after testing positive for Covid-19 sent Di Maio and Ecological Transition Minister Roberto Cingolani in his place.
Cingolani described the deal as “an important agreement that gives impetus to the partnership between Italy and Angola in the fields of renewables, biofuels, liquefied natural gas, LNG, training in technology and environment.”
The two ministers, accompanied by Chief Executive of Italian energy giant ENI Claudio Descalzi, also met President Joao Lourenco. They were later headed to neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville where they are expected to meet President Denis Sassou Nguesso today.
“This is a race against time to make sure we stock gas and oil for the next winter season,” head of Rome-based consultancy Policy Sonar Mr Francesco Galietti said.
The deals in Angola and Congo could bring Italy an additional 1.5 billion cubic meters and five billion cubic meters a year, respectively.
AFRICANEWS/Christopher Ojilere
