With the country on the rise after the end of fuel discounts, limiting its dependence on energy from Russia is one of the main objectives of the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, because she traveled to Algeria this Sunday to consolidate the agreement energy that will be key to continue limiting to a minimum the need to continue dealing with the Kremlin after the crisis unleashed by the invasion of Ukraine.
Meloni, leader of the Brothers of Italy and at the helm of the Government since October 22, landed in Algiers this afternoon and there it worsens until tomorrow, Italian government sources tell EFE. This is the first trip since he came to power in the neighboring African country, which has become an essential ally for the supply of gas to Italy and, finally, to Europe.
His predecessor, Mario Draghi, put into operation several gas supply agreements with Algeria in July 2022 which, shortly after, made that country replace Russia as the first supplier (Italy imports 90% of the gas it consumes and, until February, month of the invasion of Ukraine, 40% came from Russian territory).
The visit is part of the promotion of the so-called “Mattei Plan”, aimed at turning Italy into a bridge for energy relations between North Africa and Europe, linked by the “TransMed” gas pipeline that leaves the Algerian desert until it ends in Sicily. Bilateral meetings will also be held to increase business collaboration and the exchange of technological innovation, for which reason Meloni travels with the president of the employers’ association Confindustria, Carlo Bonomi.
Upon arrival at the Huari Bumedien International Airport of Algiers, Meloni was received by the Algerian Prime Minister, Aimen Benabderrahman, with whom he will have an official dinner in the afternoon.
On Sunday, Meloni will go to the Sanctuary of the Martyrs to lay a floral offering and then will travel to the Italian Navy ship Carabiniere, which disembarked in the port of Algiers on the occasion of this trip that coincided with the thirtieth anniversary of the treaty. of friendship between both countries, signed on January 27, 2003.
On Monday morning, the Italian Prime Minister will make a stop at the (Enrico) Mattei Garden, in homage to the founder of the Italian energy company EnI, and will visit the historic Casbah before heading to the “Al Muradia” Presidential Palace where she will hold a meeting with the president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
“Column of Italian energy security”
In December, Meloni recalled that the Mediterranean region is “the backbone of Italian energy security” and that 45% of its natural gas imports come from it (60% if one counts that which arrives from Azerbaijan through the channel of Turkey, Greece and Albania).
“The possibilities of this area are enormous, as is the help that it can offer to energy security in this phase of crisis, not only for natural gas, but also for the development and exchange of new sustainable energies,” he said in the speech. Medical Forum
The visit will also involve other bilateral meetings to increase business collaboration and the exchange of technological innovation, for which reason the president of the Confindustria employers’ association, Carlo Bonomi, will travel with Meloni, according to Italian media. Last Wednesday, the Algerian embassy in Rome announced this “friendship and work” visit to consolidate the strategic association between the two countries on the two Mediterranean shores.
