Italy to list strategic energy infrastructure

The Italian ministry of economic development plans to publish later this year a list of strategic infrastructure for the country’s security of supply, which will include pipelines, LNG regasification terminals and storage sites, ICIS understands.

The matter will be discussed in the council of ministers scheduled for Friday afternoon, informed sources told ICIS. “The ministry will determine what infrastructure will be granted financial incentives and/or speeded permitting process to ensure security of supply of the Italian system,” one source said.

The list might also include electricity infrastructure.

A spokeswoman from the Italian regulator said that AEEGSI is still waiting for the list of strategic infrastructure from the ministry of economic development or the government. She added it still needs to be defined what benefits the strategic infrastructure will receive, like simplified authorisation procedures.

According to the latest national energy strategy published by the Monti government, only infrastructure that are advanced in the permitting process can be placed on the list ( see ESGM 10 December 2014 ).

Strategic infrastructure might also benefit from a guarantee of revenues covered by the gas tariffs.

Market sources said TAP, the pipeline that will carry gas from Azerbaijan to Italy and is facing environmental opposition in southern Italy, might be declared a piece of strategic infrastructure.

According to one source, the Adriatic LNG terminal, which is majority-owned by ExxonMobil’s Italian arm, might also be included in the list. Matilde Mereghetti