Austria and Germany could also get on board, there is already a pipeline.
Europe is looking for alternatives to Russian gas. One of the ways to remedy this is to expand capacities for liquefied natural gas (LNG). This also includes a project in the Italian Adriatic. To what extent Austria can also benefit from this has not yet been determined.
Plans for an LNG appointment in Trieste were shelved years ago, now there is a new push. According to reports, a group led by the Italian industrialist Aldo Belleli, who was already involved in the construction of the floating terminal in Livorno, Italy, wants to implement the project.
The ship that will serve as the terminal already exists, and the connection should be possible within a year and a half. The great advantage of the Trieste region is its proximity to the TAG gas pipeline (Trans Austria Gasleitung) – only the construction of around 40 kilometers of pipeline would be necessary.
TAG connects the Baumgarten gas hub with northern Italy and has so far mainly transported Russian gas, which reaches Austria through Slovenia, to the south. However, the flow direction of the pipeline can also be reversed. North African and Middle East countries are mentioned as possible suppliers.
In addition to German interested parties, OMV is also said to be considering participating in the project. The group does not want to deny or confirm this when asked by KURIER. LNG is already being purchased via a terminal in Rotterdam and we are “continuously working on further diversification measures” in the gas supply.
Europe actually wanted to gradually move away from fossil fuels, which is why investments in fossil infrastructure are seen quite critically.
end of the turning point?
In view of the impending gas shortage, however, this hardly stops anyone. The focus is currently on reducing dependence on Russian gas only. The LNG terminal in Krk, Croatia, for example, is to be expanded to double its capacity, and four floating LNG terminals are planned in Germany. According to Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens), two of them are to go into operation this year. The US has nearly tripled its LNG exports to Europe since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A potential loophole for expansion is the hope that gas infrastructure could survive the fossil-fuel age. On the one hand for use with green hydrogen. At least an addition should be technically possible, another possibility would be the conversion into synthetic methane.
In Italy, the production of methane from biological waste such as wood chips is also being expanded. This “green” use of what is currently a largely fossil-based infrastructure not only simplifies approval procedures, but also financing.