The first Italian anti-Russia move arrives: theEni suspended the signing of new contracts for the acquisition of Petroleum gives fly. As reported by Repubblica and Corriere, this was announced by a press release from the company: “Eni has suspended the signing of new contracts relating to the supply of oil and petroleum products from Russia.” The company added that it is closely following the events regarding the gas supply The announcement comes on the day Prime Minister Draghi presented some concrete measures on the energy front to resolve the crisis that is also affecting our country.
The government has in fact taken some measures to contain the blow that is coming in these hours on the energy supply front. Draghi, speaking in a question time in the Chamber on the Ukrainian crisis, explained: “VAT will be reduced to 5 percent for gas users and the government has allocated 16 billion to support families due to the rise in gas bills” . The government therefore runs for cover but at the same time gives clear signals on the sanctions front against Moscow with a concrete gesture such as the blocking of new oil contracts. Certainly the energy node in this fight between Kiev and Moscow plays a leading role. And the premier reiterated that Italy is working to reduce dependence on Moscow on the gas front: “It is necessary to do so”. Also because, he said, “the share of Russian gas has increased a lot in the last 10-15 years, even after the invasion of Crimea. This demonstrates an underestimation of foreign and international policy”.
But disengaging from Russia will not be easy. As we have mentioned on InsideOver, with the cut in supplies by Moscow, Italy will have to find 30 billion meters of gas annually that would be missing from the call. Not quite an easy feat. Italy could increase supply from Algeria and Libya, but also increase national production. In short, the energy game is perhaps the most complicated to play. A war in the war that, however, involves the whole West and especially Europe, which has always been linked to gas supplies arriving from the East. A double thread that politically places our country between a rock and a hard place: that is, between the about total loyalty to Atlanticism and the realpolitik of energy market deals with Moscow and beyond …
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