Energy

The distribution of gas in Italy

At the moment in Italy there are three gas pipelines. One comes from Siberia and arrives in Italy by after crossing Austria; one arrives from the Netherlands and crosses the Italian-Swiss Alps, while a third arrives from Algeria, goes through the Sicilian channel, arrives on the island and goes up the whole peninsula. The distribution network reaches many cities on the plains and many valleys; therefore most of the people receive natural gas directly at home. The natural gas transport system in Italy occurs at two main levels. The first level, the so-called “primary distribution” refers to national transport through big pipelines. Then, a detailed “secondary distribution” system makes gas available at local level. Primary distribution is guaranteed by a pipeline network of 29,300 km length, 3,500 industrial users, as well as electric energy producers and distributors of methane as car propeller. Out of all the gas distributed in Italy in 2010, 41% is devoted to civil use, 55% to power generation and to industrial use. Gas secondary distribution, instead, is managed by municipal companies, municipalities or private companies. Companies, whose gas is delivered at the city entrance, distribute it thought their own networks to more than 5,000 municipalities, by supplying families, commercial users or small industries.