Italy must increase LNG capacity in 2023, Eni CEO says

(Reuters) - Italy must increase its LNG import capacity from next year, energy group Eni's chief executive said on Wednesday.

Italy has already secured additional gas imports from Algeria and Norway to make up for a fall in supplies from Russia, but it needs additional LNG terminals to receive more fuel from several countries, Claudio Descalzi said at a business conference.

Descalzi said the state-controlled group, which last year imported about 21 B cubic metres (Bcm) of gas from Russia out of a total of 29 Bcm imported by Italy, will replace little more than 50% of Moscow's supplies starting from this winter.

In the winter of 2024-2025, Eni will have replaced 100% of Russian gas, Descalzi said.

"If the winter is without excessive cold spells, we might be able to make it thanks to gas storages 90% full and (gas) flows from these countries," Descalzi said, referring to the possibility for Italy to survive without Moscow's imports.

"Algeria right now has doubled its gas flows to Italy compared to the past," Descalzi said.

"Then we have other contributions, such as that of Norway. In the future we will also have contributions from Egypt, Nigeria, Angola and Congo via LNG."

Italy's current LNG capacity is nearly saturated, he said.

As Russia's Gazprom started curtailing gas delivered to Europe through pipelines after its invasion of Ukraine this year, Italy and Germany have turned to LNG, which is transported through ships.

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine "a special military operation."

This year, state-controlled Italian gas grid operator Snam bought two floating storage and regasification units (FSRU).

Germany leased five FRSUs this year, two of them due to become available this year. (Reporting by Francesca Landini; Editing by Josie Kao)

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