Italy will boost US LNG imports, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed in Washington, and Eni is ending its ties with Gazprom. At home, Rome is pressing ahead with the strategic relaunch of its nuclear sector via a new public‑sector SMR partnership
Decoding the news. Italy will boost its imports of US liquefied natural gas (LNG), Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Thursday in Washington following her bilateral talks with President Donald Trump.
- In Rome, Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti told the Budget Committees of both Chambers that “if it is more economical to buy gas from the United States rather than from Asian or African suppliers, why should we not do so? I fail to see any objection.”
- He stressed the need “to optimise costs wherever possible.”
- On the eve of his US visit to meet Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Giorgetti underlined that energy is “a strategic pillar for any economy” and declared source diversification “fundamental—especially when based on politically reliable partners.”
- Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin underlined that “since this legislature began, the government has strengthened Italy’s energy security by commissioning the regasification terminals at Piombino and Ravenna.”
Addio, Gazprom. Italian energy group Eni has officially stated—via its Form 20-F filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission—that it intends to terminate all contracts with Russian energy giant Gazprom as soon as feasible.
- In 2023, roughly 12 per cent of Eni’s gas purchases originated from Russia, though none entered Italy directly, having been traded only in Turkey.
- Gazprom deliveries effectively ceased last year, and Eni’s CEO Claudio Descalzi insists the company will never resume Russian supplies, even in the event of a peace deal.
- Alternative sources have already replaced Eni’s supply chains and those of its subsidiaries, Plenitude and Enipower.
Nuclear on the agenda. During the media “spray” at the White House, Meloni also flagged potential Italian-US cooperation on nuclear.
- In late February, her government approved a law on sustainable nuclear power, “which will keep Italy at the cutting edge of the most advanced nuclear technologies,” as Pichetto Fratin noted.
- Earlier that month, Enel, Ansaldo Energia and Leonardo agreed to establish a public‑sector partnership focused on advanced third‑generation small modular reactors (SMRs).
- Under this Treasury‑driven arrangement, Enel will hold 51 per cent (with rights to appoint both chair and CEO), Ansaldo Energia 39 per cent and Leonardo 10 per cent.
- This marks the cornerstone of Italy’s nuclear relaunch, underpinning long‑term energy security and technological leadership.
Unlocking Italy’s potential. On Friday, Italian state lender CDP released a policy brief stressing that Italy has a strong nuclear supply chain and research capabilities.
- CDP’s Sectoral Strategies and Impact Division argues that the relaunch depends on developing next‑generation technologies, such as SMRs, and the availability of targeted investments.
- The document also notes that the large‑scale adoption of nuclear energy requires a regulatory and incentive framework that makes investments viable alongside reinforced European programmes and cooperation mechanisms.
