Israel is a strategic partner for energy diversification

 (Reuters) - Italy's industry minister said that Israel could play an important role in its efforts to diversify its energy sources and that collaboration between the two countries could help propel infrastructure projects such as the Eastmed gas pipeline.

Italy currently gets some 40% of its gas imports from Russia and has been looking to diversify its energy sources since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, followed by western sanctions that raised the threat of disruption.

Israel, Greece and Cyprus have approved an agreement for the EastMed subsea pipeline, designed to supply gas to Europe from the east Mediterranean via the three countries and which has been in planning for several years.

The three are expected to make a decision this year on the viability of the $6 B euro project, which is opposed by Turkey and has also raised doubts within the U.S. administration.

"Israel confirms itself as an important partner in the diversification of energy sourcing, also through LNG," Industry Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said in a statement after meeting Israel's Infrastructure, Energy and Hydro Resources Minister Karine Elharrar in Jerusalem.

He added that they had also talked about possible collaboration over renewable energy and about the green transition in industry.

"In the near future Italy's position in the Mediterranean will be central and it can be a strategic gateway for the transit of gas and other energy sources to Europe," Giorgetti said.

As part of its diversification efforts, a government-led Italian delegation visited both Angola and Congo Republic last week, and Italian energy group Eni signed a deal to lift gas supplies from the Congo Republic by more than 4.5 Bcm³ a year.

(Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

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