Technical investments

In 2015 technical investments totalled €693 million, which was essentially in line with 2014 (€700 million; -€7 million or 1.0%) and fully in line with investments projected for 2015 in the Business Plan for the four-year period 2015-2018.

Investments were classified in accordance with Resolution 514/2013/R/gas of the Authority, which identified various categories of projects with different rates of return.

The main investments for the development of new transportation capacity on the national network to bolster import and export capacity, for which a higher return of 2.0% (€249 million) is projected, concern the following:

• in terms of building infrastructure in the area of the Po Valley plain to increase transportation capacity in the north-west of the country and for the reversal of physical transportation flows to enable physical exports from interconnection points with northern Europe (€176 million): (i) the continuation of construction works for the Zimella-Cervignano pipeline; (ii) the continuation of construction works for the Minerbio-Poggio Renatico pipeline; (iii) the delivery of materials and the continuation of construction works for upgrading the Poggio Renatico plant; (iv) the delivery of materials and the continuation of construction works relating to the new hub at Minerbio; (v) the delivery of materials for the Cervignano-Mortara pipeline; (vi) the continuation of construction works relating to the new hub at Sergnano; and (vii) the allocation of the order for turbo compressors relating to the new plants at Sergnano and Minerbio;
• as part of the projects to upgrade the transportation network from the entry points in southern Italy (€63 million): (i) the continuation of construction works for the Biccari-Campochiaro pipeline, in Campania-Puglia-Molise; and (ii) the delivery of materials and the continuation of renovation works on the Enna plant in Sicily.

The main investments for the development of new transportation capacity on the regional network with a greater return of 1.0% (€79 million) relate to a numerous works to upgrade the network and to connect to new regional and national redelivery points, including:

• the continuation of construction works relating to the upgrading of the Gavi-Pietralavezzara pipeline in Piedmont-Liguria (€25 million);
• the continuation of the construction of pipelines and connections related to the initiative for the methane conversion of the Calabria region (€9 million).

Investments in replacements and other investments with a basic rate of return (€365 million) mainly concern works to maintain plant security and quality levels (€253 million); the purchase of other assets to support operational activities (€45 million), including real estate investments (€36 million) that incorporate the Green Data Centre (the complex where Snam’s entire IT infrastructure is located); projects for the development of new IT systems and for the implementation of existing systems (€42 million) and works with recourse to third parties (€18 million).

INVESTMENT PROPORTIONS BY TYPE OF RETURN (%)

Progress of work to obtain permits