Italian regions move ahead with gas pipeline and city metanisation projects

The Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security has reopened the authorisation process for the 169‑km Sulmona‑Foligno methane pipeline, a key segment of the Adriatic Line. After route optimisations proposed by Snam, municipalities and provinces along the line – including 18 communes in Abruzzo and additional areas in Umbria, Marche and Lazio – must submit fresh compatibility opinions, and regional authorities will reconsider their agreements with the state. Safety concerns have been raised over seismic and hydro‑geological risks, with the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology rejecting Snam’s request to limit geotechnical investigations. The pipeline, currently authorised for methane, is also being discussed for future hydrogen transport, prompting further regulatory debate.

In Nuoro, the city council has signed a 20‑year surface‑lease contract with Medea Spa for the Preda Longa site, enabling the conversion of the municipal gas network from propane to methane. The agreement, witnessed by mayor Emiliano Fenu and local officials, grants Medea a 6,148 m² area for the necessary infrastructure and provides the municipality with an annual fee of €16,907. The project aims to supply residents and businesses with a more efficient and environmentally friendly energy source.