Italy to be 'almost independent' of Russian gas by 2023: Ecological Transition Minister
April 22, 2022, 6:37 am

Italy to be 'almost independent' of Russian gas by 2023: Ecological Transition Minister

National flag of Italy (Photo: Pixabay)

The Xinhua reported, Italian Ecological Transition Minister Roberto Cingolani was quoted by local media as saying on Thursday (Apr 21), Italy "could start being almost totally independent" of Russian gas imports by the second half of 2023.

Cingolani's office confirmed the minister's remarks in the Italian newspaper La Stampa, when contacted by Xinhua.

That would be a rapid change for Italy, which imported more than 40 percent of its gas supply from Russia before the Ukraine crisis.

Along with other European Union countries, Italy issued widespread sanctions against Russia for its military operation in Ukraine. But the sanctions regime does not include gas imports.

Italy could start being almost totally independent of Russian gas imports by the second half of 2023 (Photo: Pixabay)

In his remarks, Cingolani said the government would dramatically reduce gas imports from Russia by maximizing imports from existing suppliers, signing new gas deals, and increasing the country's capacity for regasification, a process that converts liquified natural gas back into its usable gaseous form.

Russia's Hermitage museum demands return of paintings on loan to Italy

In recent weeks, Italy has signed a gas supply deal with Algeria, and penned smaller gas deals with Egypt, the Republic of the Congo, and Angola.

Source: xinhua

Russia blacklists Mark Zuckerberg and US Vice President Kamala Harris Ukrainian troops begin training in Britain as Boris Johnson steps up support

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”