Cassa depositi e prestiti (CDP), Fincantieri and Snam have signed a preliminary collaboration agreement aimed at identifying, defining and implementing medium-term strategic projects for the innovation and development of port facilities in Italy, as well as for the development of sustainable technologies applied to maritime transport, in line with the provisions of the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan Proposal (PNIEC).

The agreement was signed the 14th of January in Rome by the CEOs of CDP, Fabrizio Palermo, of Fincantieri, Giuseppe Bono, and of Snam, Marco Alverà and focuses on the development of LNG infrastructure and potentially bionLNG ones.

Ports and coastal areas – projects for building infrastructure for the supply, transformation and use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and alternative energy sources in maritime transport within port facilities or coastal areas;

New technologies and innovative energies – research, development and implementation of maritime transport systems based on new technologies (turbines for LNG modules, containment and management of liquid and gaseous methane systems), innovative energy sources (LNG, hydrogen, fuel cells);

Engineering – sharing operating models and best practice between the respective engineering and construction departments;

Energy efficiency – initiatives to increase consumption efficiency, with a particular focus on the naval and industrial sectors.

As part of the agreement, Fincantieri and Snam will share their technical skills by launching dedicated workshops. CDP will support these initiatives from an economic and financial point of view, in line with its institutional mission to support projects that have a positive impact on the country.

The agreement may be subject to subsequent binding agreements that the parties will define in compliance with the applicable regulatory profiles, including those relating to transactions between related parties.

Fincantieri counts a solid experience in the construction of LNG-powered ships while Snam has launched investments for over 100 million of euro in the production of LNG and bioGNL through small-scale liquefaction of gas from pipeline and biomethane produced with organic waste fraction, zootechnical waste and agricultural waste.

The impact and the future of the LNG technologies will be at the core of the debates at the fifth International Conference and third Expo LNG which will take place in Naples on 15 and 16 May 2019.

Source: Snam