(Adnkronos) – The Southern Hydrogen Corridor infrastructure project linking North Africa to Germany and Austria via Italy strengthens the country’s role as an energy hub, foreign minister Antonio Tajani told a business forum in Rome on Tuesday, according to a foreign ministry statement.
”Italy is working towards the goals of decarbonisation and energy independence in a concrete and pragmatic way, pursuing an energy mix which involves adequately developing renewable sources, hydrogen, and nuclear energy,” Tajani said.
“Today we are adding to our energy strategy with the development of the Southern Hydrogen Corridor, which will further strengthen Italy’s role as a European energy hub,” he said.
The Villa Madama forum was attended by some 130 participants including institutional delegations and industry from Italy, Germany, Austria, Tunisia and Algeria. The five countries on Tuesday agreed to continue developing the ‘SouthH2 Corridor” in a joint declaration of intent.
As part of Rome’s strategy to diversify energy sources, the foreign ministry hosted the first meeting of the World Fusion Energy Group on 5 November, in partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Tajani recalled.
Tuesday’s declaration shows the readiness of Italy’s government, institutions and companies to play central role in cooperation to secure sustainable energy supplies, including in the hydrogen sector, said environment minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin.
“This agreement has great political and institutional value, because it reaffirms the commitment to cooperation, aimed at carrying out a decisive project for the energy future of both continents (Africa and Europe), Fratin told the forum, cited by a foreign ministry statement.
“Italy is ready with its players to be central also in the hydrogen sector, a vector projected towards a renewable and sustainable future,” the statement cited Fratin as adding.
