Italy to announce Africa energy cooperation plan in October, says PM

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Source: Reuters/Guglielmo Mangiapane

The so-called 'Mattei Plan', named after the founder of Italian energy group Eni, Enrico Mattei, aims to turn Italy into a major energy hub, distributing gas from North Africa and the Mediterranean to the rest of Europe.

Meloni said her country planned to host a summit with African nations in October during which the plan would be presented.

"I think it could be the right occasion to finally present our Mattei Plan," she said in Addis Ababa, in comments broadcast by RAI public television.

African countries such as Algeria last year replaced a significant part of Italy's gas imports that previously came from Russia.