Italy makes slow progress on LNG imports

Italian plans for a large increase in imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have moved a step nearer to realization with the announcement of the final approvals for a receiving‐terminal at Rovigo in the northern Adriatic. Ten such terminals have been proposed, with a total capacity of up to 7.5 bn cfd, but all have run into objections of one kind or another, and the programme is well behind schedule. The Rovigo facility was originally proposed in 1997, but has run into political difficulties at both the local and national levels. It is not expected to be operational before late 2007.