Italy is the 4th most populated European country and the 3rd largest European gas market after the UK and Germany.
Despite its gas supply needs, in 2009 Italy produced only 8 billion cubic metres of gas (282 billion cubic feet) against a total consumption of 76 billion cubic metres (2.6 trillion cubic feet): these figures clearly show how Italy is deeply dependent on foreign energy sources, including Libya and Russia. In 2009 imports accounted for around 67 billion cubic metres of gas (2.3 trillion cubic feet).
Demand for natural gas in Italy has grown rapidly over the last decades, increasing by 359% between 1973 and 2009, growing from just 17 billion cubic metres in 1973 to over 70 billion cubic metres in recent years.
The Po Valley region, between the Alps and the Apennines, is the main gas production zone in Italy. The national transportation grid is more than 29,000 km long and the distribution network is well developed, covering 90% of the north of Italy where the Company operates. Sillaro is a good example of the extension and proximity to the pipeline grid: the production plant is only 200 metres away from to the national entry point, reducing time and costs to develop gas discoveries.
