Milan, 25 October 2023 - Italgas’ Board of Directors, chaired by Benedetta Navarra, met yesterday and approved the consolidated results of the first nine months and third quarter of 2023 (unaudited).
Key figures
Consolidated economic and financial highlight
- Total revenues: € 1,369.8 million (+26.0%)
- EBITDA: € 910.5 million (+15.9%)
- EBIT: € 536.7 million (+18.0%)
- Adjusted net profit attributable to the Group: € 316.7 million (+10.8%)
- Technical investments: € 589.1 million
- Cash flow from operating activities: € 398.1 million (€ 576.8 million +14.3% net of ESCo flow)
- Net financial debt (excluding the effects pursuant to IFRS 16): € 6,411.8 million
- Net financial debt: € 6,492.3 million
Operating Highlight
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- Municipalities in gas distribution concessions: 2,050
- Number of active meters: 7.959 millions
- Gas distribution network: 81,760 Km
Sustainability highlights
- 4 103 tCO2 eq Scope 1 and 2 (+6.4%)
- Net energy consumption: 320.0 TJ (-14.1%)
- 81,824 km of network inspected (+23.7%)
- Fugitive emissions/km of network inspected: 64.7 Sm3/km (-10.8%)
In a context of high international tensions, with the inevitable impact on energy costs and financial markets, Italgas has maintained its uninterrupted growth trajectory for 27 consecutive quarters.
The first nine months of 2023 have witnessed an intensified operational activity within the Group, aimed at achieving the targets set in the 2023-2029 Strategic Plan and the Sustainable Value Creation Plan, with a particular focus on the digital transformation objectives of the network, a key enabler of the energy transition.
In line with the 2023-2029 strategic plan, but ahead of the projected timeline, on September 30th, the corporate simplification of the Depa Infrastructure Group was successfully completed. Specifically, the merger by absorption of EDA Thess and EDA Attikis into DEDA S.A. was finalized. As a result of this merger, DEDA is entrusted with the development and management of the gas distribution service in all regions of Greece where the Depa Infrastructure Group operates. Currently, the company manages approximately 7,700 kilometers of network and serves over half a million customers.
Meanwhile, the acquisition that was announced on March 14th by Veolia Environnement S.A. of the business division holding water concessions in Italy has now been successfully finalized. With a service reach extending to around 6.2 million individuals directly and indirectly, constituting 10% of Italy's population, this development situates NEPTA, the newly established company through the integration of these operations, as a significant player in the sector. The main developmental focus revolves around the digital transformation of water infrastructure, with the aim of reducing network losses and elevating service quality standards.
In the first nine months of the year, € 589 million of investments were made, mainly for the extension, digital transformation and repurposing of networks. More specifically, 679 kilometres of new gas pipelines were laid.
The contribution from activities in Greece has been significant, where an investment of approximately 74 million euros has led to the construction of 435 kilometres of new gas pipelines.
The EBITDA for the first nine months of 2023 amounted to € 910.5 million (+15.9% compared to 30 September 2022) and adjusted net profit attributable to the Group was € 316.7 million (+10.8% compared to 30 September 2022).
Cash flow from operating activities, net of the ESCo contribution, amounted to 576.8 million euros and fully offset investments related to gas distribution.
With reference to sustainability goals, the significant contribution of the various innovation, digitisation and energy efficiency initiatives, both in the industrial and civil sectors, as well as the training activities aimed at employees on energy efficiency issues, have allowed the Group to continue on its path towards reducing net energy consumption (-14.1%) as well as the ratio of fugitive emissions to kilometres of inspected network (-10.8%), even against the inclusion of the DEPA Infrastructure Group's contributions related to 2023.
Paolo Gallo, CEO of Italgas, commented:
“In the first nine months of 2023, the Italgas Group achieved strong and valuable performance, allowing continued growth even in an unstable socio-economic context due to the ongoing international tensions.
This success can be attributed to several factors: our vision that reaffirmed the pivotal role of gas distribution networks - smart, digital, and flexible - in a secure, sustainable, and competitive ecological transition. Furthermore, significant milestones already achieved in Greece, including the merger of three DSOs into a single operator, and in the water sector, with the successful completion of the acquisition of Veolia concessions.
All economic indicators have displayed double-digit growth, with EBITDA showing an increase of 15.9%, surpassing 900 million euros, and a Group Adjusted Net Profit of 316.7 million euros, up by 10.8% compared to the same period last year.
With nearly 600 million euros invested in the first nine months, the company intensified its efforts to expand and digitally transform gas networks, both in Italy and Greece, further promoting their evolution as a strategic driver to produce renewable gases like biomethane, synthetic methane, and hydrogen.
Digitization, decarbonization, circular economy, and training continue to be strategic factors for achieving our growth objectives. These targets will depend on our ability to continually raise the bar of innovation, leveraging our most valuable resource, our people”.
1 The figures as at 30 September 2023 also include affiliates.
