Italy, which depends heavily on gas imports, is due to face an acute shortage of natural gas for its domestic power generation this year, according to the chief executive of Italian utility company Enel, as cited by Reuters.
Reuters said that the country meets about 85% of its gas demand by imports, although it is seeking to diversify its supply risk after shortfalls in imports from Russia in 2006.
According to Enel’s chief executive, Fulvio Conti, as cited by Reuters, the country has failed to develop infrastructure to meet its growing natural gas demand. The demand has grown rapidly, while the transportation routes have remained the same, making the demand and supply balance more vulnerable.