Italy's energy imports rose an annual 193.8% in April, Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (ISTAT) said Friday. Imports from Russia rose 118.8% in value and imports from The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) countries were 109.6% up in value terms, the stats agency said. Italian exports to Russia showed an annual fall of 48.4%.
Italy has been trying to wean itself off Russian gas, which currently accounts for 40% of total gas imports. The government has "moved rapidly" to diversify suppliers by scrambling to set up alternatives with countries like Algeria, Angola, Congo, Libya, Egypt and Mozambique, Premier Mario Draghi said recently, The Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata reported.
