«In 48 hours our proposal for a new price index» – Corriere.it

In the next 48 hours we will send our agreed proposal with other countries to reduce the price of gas and the common goal is to reach the next summit of the European heads of state and government in Prague on 6 and 7 October. Then we will wait for the Commission’s decision. After taking part in the Energy Council in Brussels last Friday, the Minister of Ecological Transition Roberto Cingolani spoke yesterday half an hour longer on Rai. The reasonable hypothesis, he confirmed, is to index the price of gas by hooking it to stock exchanges that are a little more stable than the TTF, which has nothing to do with the real situation and with the supply and demand mechanisms. time for a more truthful European index, he added. On the price cap we have clarified some ambiguities with Germany, which is more concerned about the lack of gas than the price. For the other 26 states this is not the case and we have found a mechanism that seems reasonable: today we are paying bills that are impossible because the gas quotations are made by the Dutch stock exchange which is not connected to the supply and demand of gas.

But it will take time. That it takes a year to find a solution I am not surprised, a very long journey – added the minister – because there are 27 member states that are trying to find new rules. That it takes a year does not surprise me, a very long journey that is made step by step. At the moment, on the issue of gas, I would distinguish the fears related to costs from fears about the quantity, since in this period in Italy we are transporting gas abroad, so the situation, in terms of quantity, is not complex.

Bills, forecast that they will fall

As regards the cost of energy, the average increase in bills in the last quarter was over 50%. I hazard a prediction. If you intend to make a proposal this month, if in one or two months you have the new legislation and decoupling, the bill for the next quarter must already benefit from the changes. For gas storage we have made a European commitment to reach 90% by the end of October; we got there in late September. Now we would like to increase them. According to the Minister of Transition for this winter we are covered, net of catastrophic events such as a very harsh climate and that there is continuity of gas flows. Continuity guaranteed by countries such as Algeria, which since mid-summer has become our main supplier, and by Azerbaijan, as well as to a lesser extent by gas from Northern Europe.

The Russian ambassador

Then he spoke about the conflict in Ukraine and the consequences it is having on energy infrastructures in Europe, after the accidents on Nord Stream and the stop of the flow of Russian gas in Italy. From what I know, the Russian ambassador to Italy, Sergey Razov, was summoned to the Farnesina to clarify the situation of the North Stream 1 and 2 sabotages. We will also make a point about the war, and every diplomatic and constructive attempt to reach the end of the conflict. The topic on the agenda is to clarify the situation of the sabotage at the Nord stream. I think there is certainly something to discuss. We will start from the sabotages at the Nord stream and take stock of the war. Let’s hope common sense triumphs.

A close conversation with Meloni

On relations with Giorgia Meloni he said: I have informed, in agreement with President Draghi, of these international developments that I am dealing with, I have a very close and collaborative dialogue, I have the duty to agree with President Draghi and to warn those who arrive that we are going in this direction that is essentially obligatory. There is little ideology on this, that’s all.