Saras’ General Manager “Sardinian methane? For the Island more cost-effective than LNG”

Scaffardi at Capital Markets Day at Sarroch, on 15 October

“We are following with attention the technological and commercial developments of LNG, also in the light of the recent release of Sardinia’s Energy & Environment Plan. But we are not directly involved in projects of this type. Sardinian methane to be extracted with the Eleonora project? It was certainly intended for Sardinia. And it would have been a cheaper alternative than importing LNG”. These are some key excerpts of the interview given by the Executive Vice President of Saras S.p.a., Dario Scaffardi, to Quotidiano Energia. The top manager spoke of Sardinia, but also addressed some key issues of the global energy scene, such as the end of sanctions on Iran and the lifting of restrictions on the export of US oil, which reaches Europe after 40 years. “The lifting of restrictions on US oil exports has eliminated the price difference of crude on the two shores of the Atlantic, thus eliminating a market distortion which in the past seriously penalized European refineries. But the volumes of American crude destined for Europe will be relatively limited, also in view of the high costs of transatlantic transport. As regards Iran, removal of the embargo should see significant developments on the physical availability of crude in Europe and hence on prices”.