DISINFO: Less natural gas coming to Italy because of EU sanctions
SUMMARY
Italy, like other EU countries, is facing record-high inflation, largely driven by rising energy costs. The country imports nearly 75% of its energy. At the beginning of 2022, it received 40% of its gas from Russia, but imports have subsequently fallen sharply due to sanctions against Moscow and the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline. In October, energy group Eni said that only about 10% of Italy's gas imports now come from Russia.
RESPONSE
Recurring Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the energy crisis in Europe amid the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine, subsequent Western sanctions on Russia and Russian retaliatory measures reducing gas supplies. This article focuses on Italy and it claims that the country is receiving less Russian natural gas because of EU sanctions against Russia and the sabotage against the Nord Stream pipelines.
The main reason behind the reduced energy import from Russia is that Moscow has weaponized energy, using it against EU Member States as a retaliatory measure to Western sanctions. Starting Summer 2022, Gazprom significantly reduced gas shipment towards Europe claiming sanctions was the reason. The Kremlin has sought to pressure the European governments and create public panic over energy insecurity and high energy costs.
Meanwhile EU member states have adopted a regulation to fill gas storages and share them in a spirit of solidarity, diversified supply sources and committed to reducing gas demand by 15% this winter. Despite recent events, and in particular the sabotage attacks on the Nord Stream Pipelines, Europe is prepared to face this winter. EU underground gas reserves have been filled by almost 90% of their capacity, well ahead of the 1 November 2022 deadline set in the gas storage regulation. This means that with the predicted gas consumption reduction and filled gas reserves, Europe won’t be out of gas for the winter 2022/23 even without Russian gas.
In December 2022 EU energy ministers reached a political agreement on a Council regulation that sets a market correction mechanism to protect citizens and the economy against excessively high prices. The regulation aims to limit episodes of excessive gas prices in the EU that do not reflect world market prices, while ensuring security of energy supply and the stability of financial markets.
Furthermore, American LNG supplies to Europe have more than doubled in 2022, as EU strategically uses its wealth to increase orders. Europe’s LNG imports increased by 65% in the first nine months of this year, also due to fall of Asian demand for LNG, in part because of lower demand from China.
Examples of multiple governments around Europe calling on their citizens to turn down heating to reduce gas dependency on Russia can be seen here and here.
See more disinformation cases on energy issues here.