Gas deliveries start to Italy

Gas from Statoil has flowed into Italy for the first time today, 1 October.

The sales contract signed on 20 January 1997 with Italian gas company Snam opens the door to this expanding market, says marketing manager Richard Eriksen in the Natural Gas business area.

Statoil’s share of the agreement, including the state’s direct financial interest (SDFI), covers the delivery of roughly 100 billion cubic metres of gas until 2025.

“Italy is a very large gas market and growing strongly,” says Mr Eriksen. “So it’s important to get involved in order to participate in the expansion.”

Demand for gas in Italy is expected to rise gradually from 61 billion cubic metres in 2000 to 101 billion in 2015, according to figures from consultant Wood Mackenzie.

Statoil, including the SDFI, is due to deliver 46 billion cubic metres of gas to European customers in the 2001 gas year, which begins today.

This figure corresponds to about 70 per cent of total deliveries from the Norwegian continental shelf, and represents an increase from 2000.

The rise partly reflects the build-up of deliveries under long-term agreements with European customers.

In addition come the start of the Snam contract and gas deliveries to the UK under a deal with BP which also begins today.