ROME, Premier Giorgia Meloni stressed the importance of having an “energy mix” on Monday during a visit to Algeria to sign more agreements to strengthen Italy’s partnership in this sphere with the North African country.

Italy has struck deals with several countries to boost alternative sources of energy since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and Algeria has replaced Russia as Italy’s biggest supplier of gas.

“Today Algeria is a our main gas supplier,” Meloni said.

“Two agreements have been signed by (Italian energy giant) Eni and its Algerian counterpart.

“An agreement to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, so one that is for sustainable development.

“Another to increase Algeria’s gas exports to Italy and the EU, the development of a new pipeline for hydrogen and the possibility to have liquefied gas.

“In short, it is a energy-mix mechanism that we have identified as a possible solution to the ongoing crisis”.

Italy should have weaned itself off its reliance on Russian gas imports by the winter of 2024-25, Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said during the visit.

“I am optimistic we will be able to being down Russian supplies of gas to zero in the winter of 2024-2025,” Descalzi said.

“I’d say that, if we continue as we are, things will go in the right direction”.

Source: Ansa News Agency