Why Urso pampers Ansaldo Energia in Azerbaijan
Ansaldo Energia has signed a contract worth over 160 million euros in Azerbaijan. Minister Urso, present at the ceremony, praised the company and looked for new partnership opportunities: Azerbaijan is useful for the "gas hub" project in Italy. All the details
On Monday Ansaldo Energia, an energy plant company controlled by Cassa depositi e prestiti, signed a contract worth more than 160 million euros with Azerenerji, Azerbaijan's largest electricity producer.
THE TURBINES AGREEMENT
The agreement provides for the supply by Ansaldo Energia of four AE94.3A model gas turbines: they are suitable for both simple-cycle and combined-cycle plants, and can burn hydrogen (a fuel that does not emit greenhouse gases) up to to a 40 percent share.
The 320 megawatt turbines are destined for the Mingachevir power plant, one of Azerbaijan's largest cities, where modernization works have begun.
EXPAND BILATERAL RELATIONSHIPS
The Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev were present at the signing of the agreement. On the sidelines of the ceremony, a round table was held dedicated to possible new collaborations between Rome and Baku on energy (fossil and renewable), railways, agriculture and the aeronautical industry.
ITALY'S PLANS FOR AZERBAIJAN
Italy, in particular, would like the Azerbaijani republic to increase its role as a supplier of natural gas and oil.
Gas from Azerbaijan reaches our peninsula through the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). The pipeline has a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters per year but this is expected to double, estimated by 2026.
However, Azerbaijan may not prove to be a reliable energy partner for Italy, given that the Central Asian country has a good political-economic relationship with Russia. However, the previous prime minister, Mario Draghi , had already included Baku among the preferred suppliers for replacing Russian hydrocarbon supplies. Similarly, the current government of Giorgia Meloni considers Azerbaijan necessary for the implementation of the so-called "Mattei plan", the vision to transform Italy into a "gas hub" between the Mediterranean and northern Europe .
In this regard, Minister Urso said yesterday that he is "convinced that thanks to its geographical position between the Caspian Sea and the countries of Central Asia, rich in energy and raw materials, Azerbaijan can increasingly become the bridge towards the our country, Europe and the Mediterranean, thus confirming Italy's role as an energy hub in Europe”.
WILL AZERBAIJAN RE-EXPORT RUSSIAN GAS?
In July last year, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, had signed a memorandum of understanding with Azerbaijan dedicated to the expansion of gas supplies to the European Union: from the approximately 8 billion cubic meters 2022 to 12, perhaps already by 2023, then taking steps (by 2027) to expand the capacity of the Southern Gas Corridor to 20 billion.
Azerbaijan imports natural gas from Russia to meet domestic needs, but could re-export part of it to Europe to meet commitments to increase supplies.
AZERBAIJAN FOR ANSALDO ENERGIA
The contract with Azerenerji is important for Ansaldo Energia, pending the 550 million euro recapitalization by Cassa depositi e prestiti after the financial difficulties – a loss of 442 million euro and net debt to third parties of 787 million – communicated the last August. Furthermore, the managing director Giuseppe Marino will leave his office on March 31st to take over the leadership of Hitachi Rail Global.
One of the priority objectives of Ansaldo Energia's new industrial plan is precisely the rationalization of the unit dedicated to gas turbine contracts. In this sense, "Azerbaijan is a strategic country", said the head of international and public affairs of the company, Stefano Santinelli: "we have identified significant business opportunities and have chosen to open one of our branches".
Minister Urso declared that "the new contracts demonstrate how Ansaldo Energia has technologies and skills recognized precisely in the fastest growing countries".
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/energia/ansaldo-energia-azerbaigian-piano-mattei/ on Tue, 14 Feb 2023 13:04:32 +0000.