Technical investments

Technical investments in 2020 amounted to 981 million euros, an increase of 168 million euros, or 20.7%, compared with 2019 (813 million euros).

The investments were classified respectively in accordance with Resolution 575/2017/R/gas with reference to 2018 and 2019 and 114/2019/R/gas for 2020 whereby the Energy, Networks and Environment Regulatory Authority (hereinafter ARERA or the Authority) identified different categories of projects with different rates of return.

The main investments in new transportation capacity Development (265 million euros), for which a greater return of 1.5% is planned, mainly involve:

• investments in development of new transport capacity on the National Network to serve import and export capacity (182 million euros) in the context of TAP Interconnection methane pipeline construction (156 million euros; 95 million euros in 2019), market supportive initiatives in the north-east of the country and physical inversion of transportation flows in interconnection points with northern Europe in the Po Valley (13 million euros), as well as to strengthen the transportation network at entry points in southern Italy (12 million euros) to continue construction of the Massafra-Biccari methane pipeline reconnections;
• investments to develop new transportation on the Regional and National Networks (83 million euros) including: (i) continuation of work to construct methane pipelines and connections associated with the gas conversion initiative in the Calabria Region (21 million euros); (ii) continuation of construction of biomethane connections (13 million euros) and CNG connections (11 million euros); (iii) construction of the methane pipelines Mornico al Serio-Travagliato (8 million euros) and improvement of Boltiere-Bergamo (4 million euros); (iv) completion of complementary construction activities relative to the methane connection of Pietravairano – Pignataro M. (6 million euros); (v) engineering and permit activities to develop the backbone in Sardinia.

Investments for replacements and other investments with base remuneration (716 million euros), mainly involve: (i) works intended to maintain safety and quality levels for systems (529 million euros), including the “methane pipeline replacement” initiative (238 million euros), especially continuation of materials delivery, construction and partial start up of the Rimini – S. Sepolcro methane pipeline reconstruction; (ii) projects to develop new information systems, as well as to implement existing ones (154 million euros), including the Consumption Cloud – Azure project, development of storage software, adjustment of applications supporting network management and cartography systems; (iii) works charged back to third parties (16 million euros); (iv) acquisitions of key operating assets (16 million euros).

Progress of activities related to obtaining permits

To develop new settlements, in addition to the technical-economic feasibility criteria, Snam adopts procedures that respond to stringent environmental and safety compatibility assessments.

The assessments of environmental effects involve all phases of the work life cycle, site selection, planning, construction, operation and decommissioning. These assessments are made within the purview of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure and the procedures of the Integrated Environment Authority (AIA), at the end of which the central and local administrations issue the permits required under current law.

Decrees and measures obtained buring the year (MATTM competence)