Italy's dependence on Putin becomes an electoral dispute: a dispute over a liquid gas terminal in a Mediterranean city

Created: 08/26/2022, 19:09

By: Andreas Schmid

Sunset in Piombino: In the Mediterranean city, Italy wants to make itself more independent of Vladimir Putin's Russia gas.

© IMAGO/agefotostock//Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik/AFP (montage)

One month until the Italian elections.

In polls, the right-wing extremist "Brothers of Italy" are in the lead.

Now, however, they are arguing within their own ranks.

Piombino – Industry and tourism meet directly in Piombino, Italy.

The 30,000-inhabitant town in Tuscany is known for an iron works with a coking plant and a steel works.

At the same time, it is located directly on the Mediterranean Sea and connects the Italian mainland with the island of Elba by a ferry.

Politically, Piombino has so far been comparatively irrelevant.

But now the city is suddenly becoming a campaign topic for the upcoming parliamentary elections at the end of September.

The point of contention is a liquid gas terminal.

Italy election: Mediterranean country wants to get out of Russia dependency

Due to the consequences of the Ukraine war, Italy is also worried about its energy supply.

The credo is similar to that in Germany: away from Russian dependency and towards alternatives.

Italy is therefore looking for new suppliers outside of Putin - in Africa and on the Arabian Peninsula.

Closer partnerships are planned with Algeria, for example.

A liquid gas terminal in Piombino should help.

The gas network operator Snam plans to place the ship "Golar Tundra" in the port of Piombino and convert liquefied natural gas delivered from spring 2023 and feed it into the networks.

Some of the gas is already coming in liquid form by ship rather than pipeline, which is why the Golar Tundra is necessary.

According to operator Snam, the terminal in Piombino can cover 6.5 percent of the country's gas needs.

Italy is dependent on additional terminals.

But there is resistance to the plans.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is used when there is no pipeline connection between the producer and the consumer.

Natural gas liquefies when it is cooled to -162 degrees Celsius.

It's usually more expensive than pipeline gas.

Italy election: Fratelli dispute over LNG terminal: "Yes, but not on my doorstep"

 "The election of Piombino is absolutely wrong," Piombino Mayor Francesco Ferrari told

newspaper .

Ferrari is part of the far-right Fratelli d'Italia (FdI) party.

She is currently in the lead in polls for the Italian election.

The mayor is in a dilemma.

In principle, his party is in favor of LNG terminals.

But he himself must protect his community.

Ferrari's party friend Ignazio La Russa clearly clarified his party's position the day before.

He emphasized that the Fratelli are in favor of the gas liquefaction plant in Piombino and that the excuse cannot always be “Yes, but not on my doorstep”.

Other parties also joined the debate on Friday.

Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi from the small center party Italia Viva criticized the fact that the Fratelli mayor in Piombino was still against the gas liquefier despite the energy crisis.

His middle party is the only party that is serious about switching to LPG.

Renzi's party recently founded a new center alliance with former minister Carlo Calenda and his party Azione.

According to polls, however, they will not play a major role in the upcoming Italian elections.

They are only just above the four percent hurdle that means entry into Parliament in Rome.

Italy election poll (Source: Politico, as of August 24)

Italy will elect a new parliament on September 25th.

Mario Draghi had previously resigned as Prime Minister.

The extreme right could benefit from the political chaos in the country resulting from the resignation – or is it tearing itself apart?

The dispute over the Piombino terminal is just one of the issues on which the extreme right is divided.