Italian Minister of Energy Transition Roberto Cingolani announced that his country intends to install two floating storage and regasification units (FSRU) seeking to increase liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports without relying on Russian natural gas, Reuters reported

This came as part of a wider European effort to diversify their sources of energy and reduce their dependence on Russian energy supplies in opposition to its invasion of Ukraine.

“Today we officially mandated (gas group) Snam to negotiate the acquisition of an FSRU and the leasing of a second,” Roberto Cingolani said in a parliamentary hearing.

Previously, anonymous sources told Reuters that the two FSRUs, with a combined capacity of more than 10 billion cubic meters (bcm), will be located in the Tyrrhenian Sea and, most likely, the Adriatic Sea.

However, one of the sources elaborated that these vessels will be installed in ports close to the existing pipeline infrastructure.

“The infrastructure… will be identified as strategic assets,” Cingolani said.

According to Reuters, Italy imports around 30 bcm of gas from Russia every year representing 40% of its total gas imports.