Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said that the European Union should lift the ban on natural gas imports from Russia, which will become fully effective in the autumn of 2027, to protect itself from the effects of the war in the Persian Gulf and ensure energy supply.
DESCALZI’S WORDS
“I think it is necessary to suspend the ban that will come into effect on January 1, 2027, on 20 billion cubic meters of gas coming from Russia,” Descalzi stated during his speech at the Lega political training school.
HOW MUCH RUSSIAN GAS DOES THE EUROPEAN UNION IMPORT?
Before Russia invaded Ukraine, the European Union depended on Moscow for over 40 percent of its natural gas imports; last year, however, the Russian share of total EU supplies was 13 percent: from over 150 billion cubic meters of gas (mainly via pipeline) purchased in 2021, it dropped to “only” 40.9 billion in 2025.
The decline is significant, but Moscow remains a very important supplier for Brussels to this day. However, purchases are expected to drop to zero by 2027: more precisely, the ban on imports through short-term contracts will take effect on April 25 for liquefied gas and on June 17 for pipeline purchases; for long-term contracts, the ban will start on January 1, 2027, for LNG and on September 30, 2027, for pipeline flows.
DESCALZI’S THOUGHTS
In short, Descalzi thinks the European Union should reconsider its energy policy and resume freely purchasing Russian gas to protect itself from a potential worsening of the situation in the Persian Gulf. If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for a long time, that is, and if hydrocarbon producers in the region fail to restore the lost output quickly (more than a year, perhaps, given the damage caused to their facilities by Iranian attacks), the market would face a gas supply deficit of about 20 billion cubic meters.
“Who will produce these additional 20 billion?” Descalzi asked.
But even before reaching a “physical” gas shortage, the loss of supply from the Persian Gulf – especially from Qatar – is already causing a significant increase in fuel prices. Considering that prices on the Asian market are generally higher than in Europe, the remaining LNG exporters might decide to direct their shipments to the Far East to take advantage of favorable conditions, leaving the Old Continent uncovered.
A similar scenario could occur in the oil market. “The physical oil market in Asia is at $150 per barrel,” Descalzi explained, “the Atlantic paper market is at $110. So if there’s a cargo leaving Africa or anywhere else, where does it go?”
BERNABÈ (EX-ENI) ALSO WANTS A RETURN TO RUSSIAN GAS
Before Descalzi, former Eni CEO Franco Bernabè had already called – during an interview on Otto e mezzo – for a “very serious reflection” on the state of fossil fuel supplies and prices in light of the Middle East war. “Today there are no conditions to reactivate Russian gas, but certainly the issue of Russian gas is one that at some point will have to be addressed, in some form.”
WHAT EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE DOING
In fact, several European Union member states have already increased imports of Russian liquefied gas. In the first quarter of 2026, they increased purchases from the Yamal LNG plant in the Russian Arctic by 17 percent year-on-year, for a volume of five million tons and a total expenditure of 2.8 billion euros: this is according to data collected by Kpler and estimates made by Urgewald.
– Also read: The Gulf War Has Pushed the EU to Fuel Up with Russian Arctic Gas
RISKS FOR ITALY: LNG, JET FUEL, AND DIESEL
Italy is the European country that imports the most gas from Qatar, with nearly 5 million tons in 2025: Qatari fuel accounts for about 10 percent of total gas imports. According to Descalzi, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz will cause a shortfall in LNG supplies for our country of 6.5 billion cubic meters, which will however be covered through purchases from the United States and Africa: specifically Nigeria, Congo, and Angola.
However, Descalzi pointed out that the most serious problem is the supply of jet fuel, the fuel for airplanes: the European Union depends on the Persian Gulf for over 40 percent of supplies and is unable to refine it in sufficient quantities itself (refining, according to Descalzi, “has been weakened over the last fifteen years”). In four Italian airports – Milan Linate, Bologna, Venice, and Treviso – there have already been restrictions on aircraft refueling.
Diesel supplies are also at risk, the most used fuel for agriculture and goods transport. “Last weekend,” said the head of Eni, “we had six hundred service stations where diesel was sold out. Our fault for keeping prices too low, but if six hundred Eni stations run out of diesel, there is a possible problem.”
