Italy solidifies its role as a European energy hub

Italy’s gas network, comprising more than 33,000 km of pipelines, 13 storage sites and five LNG terminals, is managed by a single operator, Snam. This integrated system provides ten entry points for gas, both via pipelines and regasification terminals, allowing the country to diversify supplies and store gas for European markets.

The TAP pipeline, bringing Azerbaijani gas through Greece and Albania, now supplies about 16% of Italy’s gas by 2025, reinforcing the hub’s strategic importance. Italian infrastructure is cited as a key element of the EU’s REPowerEU plan, which seeks to cut reliance on Russian gas through energy savings, diversification and renewable expansion. An Openpolis analysis notes that while the EU has reduced Russian gas imports, the rollout of REPowerEU measures remains uneven across member states.