Month: November 2024

Baku, Azerbaijan – November 15^th, 2024 – The role of infrastructure in reducing methane emissions and promoting sustainable gas trade was the central theme at the Italian Pavilion in COP29’s Blue Zone, where distinguished international figures in energy and environmental fields, government representatives, infrastructure operators, and NGOs gathered for an impactful discussion.

The session was inaugurated by Professor Francesco Corvaro, Special Envoy of the Italian Government for Climate, who outlined COP29’s main context and objectives, highlighting Italy’s strategic role in international negotiations. Jonathan Banks, Global Director of Methane at the Clean Air Task Force, focused his speech on the impact of methane emissions and the importance of reducing them through measurable, sector-specific approaches. He called all participants to action and moderated the subsequent discussion.

Throughout the event, experts and representatives from institutions, companies, and NGOs shared valuable insights, experiences, and strategies to curb methane emissions. Among the participants, Masahiro Naka from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, alongside representatives of think tanks and NGOs such as the Atlantic Council and the Environmental Defense Fund, enriched the debate. They were joined by delegates from infrastructure companies, including Tokyo Gas, Azerigas, and Marubeni. Also contributing to the event were the Italian Biogas Consortium, the World Bank, and Andris Piebalgs, Chair of the IMEO Implementation Committee.

“For the first time, Italgas is taking part in COP in a remarkably significant way Pier Lorenzo Dell’Orco, CEO of Italgas RETI stated – We are proud to have brought together a panel of exceptional experts from various nations here in Baku to address the crucial challenge of reducing methane emissions. Gas, which today is fossil-based but will increasingly be green, will continue to play a key role in the transition to a net-zero economy, with infrastructure serving as the enabler for sustainability across the entire energy chain. The success of this event not only reinforces Italgas’s position as Europe’s leading gas distribution operator but also establishes our role as a prominent player on the international energy stage. We extend our thanks to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security for hosting us in the Italian pavilion here in Azerbaijan and for their valuable support in organizing and realizing this event”.

Baku (Azerbaijan), November 15^th, 2024 – For the fourth year in a row, Italgas has received the prestigious Gold Standard recognition in the An Eye on Methane 2024 report from the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO), published by the United Nations Environment Programme with support from the European Commission.

The report, presented today at COP29 in Baku, provides an in-depth analysis of methane emissions data supplied by companies participating in OGMP 2.0, evaluating progress in emission reduction efforts.

This recognition highlights Italgas’s consistent commitment to monitoring and reducing methane emissions, demonstrating advanced expertise in emissions measurement achieved through innovative technologies and the digital transformation of assets. The report also emphasizes Italgas’s role in presenting one of the most ambitious implementation plans within the gas distribution sector.

Italgas stands out as the only downstream company featured in the “Stories of Progress in OGMP 2.0” thanks to its extensive emissions measurement campaign, which has enabled the identification of major emission sources and improvement in data accuracy. Furthermore, the company collaborates with a team of researchers to conduct controlled gas release tests at a testing field, aimed at identifying previously undetected emission sources.

The company has also distinguished itself by adopting advanced technological solutions, such as the CRDS (Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy) technology developed by California-based Picarro, which ensures greater speed, sensitivity, and range compared to traditional methods.

Finally, the report acknowledges Italgas’s leadership role within the sector, driven by a proactive approach to emission reduction, not only within the company itself but also by encouraging best practices and offering mentorship to other industry operators.

The An Eye on Methane 2024 report is based on data collected during the fourth year of the OGMP 2.0 program, the framework introduced by UNEP in 2020 for methane emissions reporting and monitoring.

Baku (Azerbaijan), November 12, 2024 – Italgas and SOCAR (State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic) signed a Cooperation Agreement today at COP29, renewing and strengthening the collaboration between the two industrial groups.

The agreement, signed by Paolo Gallo, CEO of Italgas, and Elshad Nassirov, SOCAR Vice President responsible for gas, consolidates a strategic partnership aimed at promoting innovation, efficiency, and sustainability in the gas distribution sector.

Key areas of collaboration include the exchange of best practices and technologies to accelerate the energy transition and digitalization, with a particular emphasis on decarbonizing infrastructure through gas leak detection using Picarro technology, as well as process digitalization through the agile methodology, which has been in place at Italgas’s digital factory—the group’s hub for digital transformation—since 2018.

The agreement stems from the existing partnership between Bludigit, Italgas’s Digital Company, and Azerigas Production Union, the entity responsible for natural gas distribution and sales in the Republic of Azerbaijan, aimed at identifying leaks in Azerbaijan’s gas network and reducing emissions within the distribution sector. To this end, Picarro’s CRDS (Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy) technology is already being used in a pilot phase, alongside data analysis, to enhance effectiveness and timeliness in detecting leaks, including minor ones, and to guide preventive maintenance actions for the network.

“We strongly believe in the value of cooperation and global dialogue as key accelerators on the path to net zero – stated Paolo Gallo, CEO of Italgas -. We are excited to embark on this partnership with SOCAR, a company that, like us, views technological innovation and sustainability as fundamental pillars of growth. In this context, the agreement holds strategic significance, as it will enable us to expand resources dedicated to breakthrough solution development and explore new technologies, further strengthening our globally recognized leadership in the gas distribution sector”.

“We are pleased to deepen our collaboration with Italgas, a company that shares SOCAR’s commitment to innovation and sustainability – stated SOCAR -. This agreement represents an important milestone in our journey towards a net-zero future, allowing us to integrate advanced technologies like Picarro’s CRDS into our gas distribution infrastructure. By enhancing our capabilities in leak detection and digitalization, we are not only improving efficiency but also contributing significantly to emissions reduction across the network“.

The awareness of the importance of reducing emissions across the entire gas infrastructure chain, essential for advancing towards a net-zero economy, will be the central theme of the event organized by Italgas on November 15 at the Italian Pavilion at COP29. This debate, titled “Methane Emissions in the Global Path to Net Zero: Infrastructure as a Catalyst for Sustainable Gas Trade,” will involve institutional figures, representatives from think tanks, NGOs, and industry operators. The discussion will focus on the urgency of containing methane emissions to combat climate change, exploring industrial, financial, and policy strategies applicable to each component of the infrastructure chain, with a particular focus on developing countries.

Among the speakers, Pier Lorenzo Dell’Orco, CEO of Italgas Reti, will outline the transformation journey of the Italgas Group into a network tech company and its leadership in monitoring and reducing methane emissions. Professor Francesco Corvaro, Special Envoy for Climate Change of the Italian government, will present Italy’s commitment as a strategic player and the contribution of “international champion” companies in sharing best practices.