ROMA (ITALPRESS) – “North Africa is now more a supplier than a real integrated energy hub. The challenge we face is to transform historical supply relationships into an interconnected energy system, capable of supporting economic development, industrialization and regional integration on both sides of the Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa. A bridge between Europe and Africa in which Italy is the connection to the north and Algeria to the south of an exchange that must be increasingly strong and equally profitable.” Thus the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, who participated in Algiers at a conference on challenges and opportunities for closer regional collaboration between North Africa, Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.
“When we talk about cross-border energy trade, one of the main obstacles is not technological but regulatory and institutional, Minister Pichetto recalled. Overcoming these barriers requires a qualitative leap in institutional cooperation: It is not only a question of aligning rules, but of building trust, regulatory capacity, a stable framework that makes it possible to integrate regional markets. The Mattei Plan – said Pichetto – is a tool to develop and consolidate a mutually beneficial partnership with African countries, through the promotion of concrete projects for the development of interconnections, but also through the on-site development of technologies applied to energy and the establishment of innovation centres. Experience shows that energy integration is a gradual process. Pragmatic approaches, pilot projects and strong technical cooperation can create confidence and prepare the ground for more integrated regional markets. In this sense – the minister concluded – energy can become one of the most concrete engines of economic integration between Europe, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa”.
– MASE press office photos –
(ITALPRESS).
