Italy is exploring alternative natural gas supplies from the United States, Africa, and Azerbaijan after Qatar Energy declared force majeure and suspended some deliveries amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said, according to Reuters.
The disruption followed a notice from QatarEnergy to Italian utility Edison, informing the firm that it would be unable to deliver five liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes scheduled for early April. The development has prompted Rome to begin sourcing replacement volumes from alternative global suppliers to ensure stable energy availability.
Fratin said the government remains confident about securing alternative supplies, noting that gas from Qatar accounts for only about 9 percent of Italy’s annual gas consumption. Possible substitutes include LNG imports from the United States as well as pipeline supplies from Libya, though technical adjustments may be required to increase flows.
CNBC Africa noted that the additional volumes could also come from Mozambique and Algeria, while pipeline deliveries from Azerbaijan through the Trans Adriatic Pipeline remain another potential option. The move highlights Europe’s ongoing push to diversify energy sources and strengthen supply resilience amid geopolitical disruptions in global gas markets.
