Italy reduces gas imports from Azerbaijan by 0.2% in Jan-April, spends 2.2 bln euros

BAKU. June 19 (Interfax) - Italy reduced gas imports from Azerbaijan by 0.2% year-on-year to 120,431 terajoules in January-April 2023 (TJ), or 2.288 million tonnes, the European Union's statistical office, Eurostat, said in materials that Interfax has reviewed.

Azerbaijan decreased gas supplies to Italy by 2.9% year-on-year to 32,591 TJ in April, or 619,229 tonnes.

The cost of gas imported to Italy from Azerbaijan is estimated at 2.187 billion euros in January-April, a decrease of 33%, and at 392.95 million euros in April, a drop of 61.5%.

According to Eurostat, Italy increased gas imports from Azerbaijan by 41.2% to 385,883 TJ, or 7.332 million tonnes in 2022. Italy allocated 13.253 billion euros for gas imports in the reporting period, an increase of 3.9-fold.

As previously reported, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria increased gas imports from Azerbaijan by 12.7% year-on-year to 161,183 TJ, or 3.039 million tonnes, in January-April 2023, a decline of 26.9% to 2.702 billion euros.

Azerbaijan boosted gas exports by 18% to 22.3 billion cubic meters in 2022, and ramped up supplies to Europe by 39% to 11.4 bcm, and the country plans to export 24.5 bcm in 2023, shipping about 12 bcm to Europe.