Italy to update its gas emergency plan next week – Reuters

Italy will update its gas emergency plan next week, a government source said on Thursday, adding Rome will not resort to rationing since it has cut its reliance on Russian imports, reported from Reuters. 

The updated emergency plan, however, envisages tougher measures that would be triggered in the event of a further reduction or a complete halt of gas supplies from Moscow.

Rome has already acted to cut gas usage by 7% this year through steps including the reduction of heating by 1 degree Celsius in public and private residential buildings in the second half of 2022.

Rome last year got 40% of the gas it imported from Russia, an important resource used to produce its electricity.

The source said that the government's efforts to find alternative suppliers have cut the share of imported Russian gas to around 18% in the summer.

The government has spent 52 billion euros so far this year on a series of measures to help shield firms and families from surging energy costs and rising consumer prices. 

www.anews.az