New Italy PM mentions geothermal in programmatic declaration

Carlo Cariaga

Rome: Italy PM Giorgia Meloni mentioned the potential of geothermal energy in contributing to energy independence during a speech on the Government’s programmatic declarations.

During her first speech in the Chamber, the new Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni expressed optimism for the potential of the country to develop more facilities for renewable energy, including geothermal. Amidst the energy crisis, diversification of Italy’s renewable energy sources may help the country attain energy autonomy.

“Our priority today must be to put a stop to expensive energy and accelerate, in any case, the diversification of sources of supply and national production, because I want to believe that, paradoxically, an opportunity for Italy can also emerge from the drama of the energy crisis,” said PM Meloni during her programmatic declarations.

“Our seas have gas fields that we have a duty to fully exploit and our nation, in particular the South, is the paradise of renewables, with its sun, wind, earth heat, tides, rivers, a green energy heritage too often blocked by bureaucracy and incomprehensible vetoes,” Meloni added.

The complex procedures and long waiting times needed to obtain permits and concessions for geothermal projects was one of the major challenges cited by the Italian Geothermal Union (UGI) and the Italian Association of Urban Heating (AIRU) in a joint press release published earlier this year. According to the position paper, there are currently a dozen geothermal projects that are either awaiting authorization or are going through the authorization process which collectively have the potential to generate 700 GWh/year.

“In short, I am convinced that Italy, with a little courage and a practical spirit, could emerge from this crisis stronger and more autonomous than before.” concluded Meloni.