Green Light For New Regasification Terminal In Sicily

The Porto Empedocle regasification terminal project in Sicily is ready to restart. On September 18, Enel CEO Flavio Cattaneo met with the President of the Sicily region, Renato Schifani, who gave the green light to extend the permit for the work.

“We once again emphasized the importance of infrastructure. The development of the Porto Empedocle onshore terminal will make an important contribution to the diversification of energy supplies and will provide a development opportunity for the south of Italy, both in terms of contribution to the creation of an energy hub in the Mediterranean and in terms of employment and development, as well as the reconstruction of the territory,” commented the governor. “The region has done its part and notes that excellent synergy with Enel and its management has been confirmed, which can benefit all of Sicily.”

The project’s completion date has therefore been extended to 2028 in order to carry out the work along the line set by the Italian government regarding the potential infrastructure to diversify gas supplies in conditions of international instability. The project for a regasification terminal, which could supply 8 billion cubic meters of gas per year, was drawn up long before the conflict in Ukraine, but delays and various appeals blocked it for 15 years.

Contrary to what was previously thought, Enel will not give up the “license” to build the infrastructure, but will take on a direct commitment to its construction, involving an investment of 1 billion euros. In parallel with the new regasifier, explains the Italian economic newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, SNAM (the company that manages the Italian energy infrastructure) is working to improve the network and increase the gas flow along the route from southern Italy to the north.