EDITORIAL

Dear readers, this edition of our newsletter collects the main moments and contributions that have characterized the activities of ASSOCOSTIERI, focusing on strategic issues for energy transition and sustainability. In the foreground, we present the conference“LNG as Transition Fuel: Prospects for the Maritime and Land Sector,” which will be held on January 29, 2025 at the prestigious Sala Zuccari of Palazzo Giustiniani in the Senate of the Republic. It will be a key opportunity to discuss the role of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a transition solution for the maritime and land sectors, together with experts, institutional representatives and industry professionals. Among other insights in this newsletter, you will find a summary of my recent interview with Telenord, where I discussed the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition in Italy, emphasizing the role of LNG as an alternative fuel, the importance of ports as strategic energy centers, and the need for a national strategy to ensure sustainable and internationally competitive logistics infrastructure.

Mr. Dario Soria, Director General of ASSOCOSTIERI, also represented the association at the meeting of the CNEL’s National Council for Road Safety and Sustainable Mobility, offering an important contribution on the role of biofuels, LPG and renewable energy carriers for a safer and more sustainable mobility system. Another crucial topic was addressed by Eng. Lorenzo de’ Medici during the IFEC – Italian Forum of Energy Communities conference, where he illustrated the prospects and opportunities of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) as key tools for a shared and affordable energy transition. Finally, we report highlights from the informative webinar on MASE Decree No. 294 of August 7, 2024, which introduces significant changes in the National Certification System for biofuels and other renewable energy carriers. This event, dedicated to our members, provided key clarifications to understand the impact of the new regulatory provisions. We invite you to follow all our initiatives and actively participate in the transition path we are building together.

Kind regards,

The President

Elio Ruggeri

LNG as the Fuel of Transition: prospects for the maritime and land sector

On January 29, 2025, the conference“LNG as Transition Fuel: Prospects for the Maritime and Land Sector” will be held at the Sala Zuccari of Palazzo Giustiniani in the Senate of the Republic. Organized by ASSOCOSTIERI at the initiative of Senator Giorgio Maria Bergesio, the event will be a key opportunity to analyze the strategic role of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in our country’s energy transition. The event will open with institutional greetings by Senator Giorgio Maria Bergesio, followed by speeches by ASSOCOSTIERI President Eng. Elio Ruggeri, Commander General of the Harbor Master Corps – Coast Guard, Admiral Nicola Carlone, and Chief of the National Fire Department, Eng. Eros Mannino. The speakers will provide an initial overview of the opportunities and challenges associated with the adoption of LNG as a strategic fuel, introducing the key issues that will be explored in depth during the two panel discussions.

The meeting will consist of two thematic panels:

1. First Round Table – The Development of LNG in the Maritime Port Sector: An analysis of innovative technologies for using LNG as a fuel in maritime transport and the port infrastructure needed to support this development.
2. Second Round Table – The Development of LNG in the Land Transport Sector: A reflection on the prospects for the use of LNG in heavy transport and logistics networks, with a focus on environmental benefits and market opportunities.

LNG represents one of the most promising solutions for the decarbonization of the energy sector, due to its ability to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions compared to traditional fuels. This meeting will be an opportunity to discuss its role as a transitional fuel, highlighting synergies between the maritime and land-based sectors, and to outline future prospects for a rapidly evolving market. The event will bring together industry experts, institutional representatives and professionals, creating an important platform for dialogue to share visions and innovative solutions. This is a unique opportunity to understand the dynamics of the LNG market and its potential as a strategic fuel for the future of energy logistics.

President Elio Ruggeri on Telenord: “Ports as the heart of the blue economy and energy transition.”

ASSOCOSTIERI President Eng. Elio Ruggeri was recently interviewed by Transport, Telenord ‘s national format dedicated to ports, transportation and logistics. During the conversation, Eng. Ruggeri addressed the central issues related to the energy transition, outlining the challenges and opportunities that Italy must seize to consolidate its role in the international energy logistics landscape. “ASSOCOSTIERI has acquired an absolute leadership position toward alternative fuels to diesel, particularly in liquefied natural gas,” said Ruggeri, emphasizing that LNG represents one of the fundamental pillars of the energy transition. Thanks to its use in the maritime and land sectors, LNG is emerging as a concrete solution to reduce CO₂ emissions, while fostering a sustainable evolution of the country’s logistics infrastructure. President Ruggeri reiterated that the energy transition must be guided by three key principles: pragmatism, justice, and sustainability. It is essential to start with the current energy system, but work in parallel to define and finalize the energy models of the future. This approach allows for the gradual integration of innovative solutions while avoiding compromising the stability of the current system and ensuring a fair transition for all stakeholders. Another central theme of the interview was the role of ports, which Eng. Ruggeri called “the heart of the blue economy.” Italian ports are not only crucial logistics hubs, but also strategic energy centers, capable of supporting the energy transition and contributing significantly to the national GDP. The President also stressed the need for a national strategy to make Italian ports attractive to the fleets of the future, ensuring that they can compete internationally through state-of-the-art infrastructure and sustainable energy solutions. The interview, broadcast on Telenord, is further evidence of ASSOCOSTIERI’s role as a key player in the energy transformation of Italy’s logistics system, reinforcing its position as a reference towards alternative fuels and sustainable infrastructure.

Lawyer Dario Soria at CNEL: “LNG as a pillar for energy transition and security of supply”

Lawyer Dario Soria, Director General of ASSOCOSTIERI, participated in the meeting organized by the National Council for Road Safety and Sustainable Mobility at the National Economic and Labor Council(CNEL). During his speech, Soria stressed the strategic role of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a key fuel for achieving climate goals and ensuring security of energy supply. “LNG is in all likelihood the fuel par excellence to achieve climate goals in the maritime sector today,” said Mr. Soria, opening his speech and emphasizing the importance of logistics infrastructure and resilience to address current geopolitical and climate challenges. The Director pointed out that, thanks to the primary logistics grounded by ASSOCOSTIERI member companies, Italy has been able to respond effectively to the difficulties imposed by international scenarios. With 22 vessels operating in the Mediterranean and ongoing projects such as Snam’s Ravenna regasification terminal and Edison’s Small Scale depot in Oristano, Italy is positioned as one of the most advanced countries in LNG management. For further development of the sector, Mr. Soria stressed the need for targeted regulatory interventions and an increase in the availability of BioGNL, through tools such as Guarantees of Origin (GOs). The chairman also highlighted the contribution of ASSOCOSTIERI members, who are investing to modernize their infrastructures, making them suitable to accommodate and distribute the fuels of the future. These investments not only strengthen the role of Italian ports in the logistics chain, but also position them as benchmarks for the decarbonization of the maritime sector. Another central theme of the talk was security, not only in terms of physical risks, but also in terms of protection from cyber threats. Mr. Soria recalled that ASSOCOSTIERI is promoting awareness about the actions resulting from the transposition of the NIS 2 directive for network and information system security.

“The association has adopted a specific code of conduct,” the Director General explained, “including protocols for defense against crimes such as abusive access and damage to computer systems.” This commitment reflects the need to strengthen the protection of the national energy infrastructure, thus ensuring greater resilience against cyber threats as well. Mr. Soria concluded his speech by reiterating ASSOCOSTIERI’s commitment to sustainable and secure logistics that can support the national energy transition and security of supply.

Eng. Lorenzo de’ Medici at IFEC: Renewable Energy Communities for the Ports of the Future.

During the IFEC – Italian Forum of Energy Communities conference, Eng. Lorenzo de’ Medici, an expert in energy transition and European policies from ASSOCOSTIERI, participated in the session titled “Innovative Developments for Diffuse Self-Consumption.” In his speech, De’Medici stressed the strategic importance of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) in transforming Italian ports into renewable energy hubs and key hubs for the decarbonization process. Eng. de’ Medici explained how RECs, applied to port infrastructure, can be a turning point in energy management and CO₂ emissions reduction. Ports, he said, are not only essential logistical hubs for seaborne freight transport-a sector that is constantly growing-but they can become “energizing” infrastructures that can generate, distribute, and use renewable energy efficiently. CERs would also enable the integration of new energy carriers, such as hydrogen and LNG, for bunkering activities, meeting the sustainability and technological innovation requirements of European and international regulations. Among the innovative technologies discussed, Eng. de’ Medici highlighted cold ironing, a system that allows ships at berth to shut down their main engines and be powered by electricity generated from renewable sources. This solution significantly reduces CO₂ emissions during port stops and is one of the key elements in making ports more sustainable.

The speech also stressed the importance of the participation of large companies in port RECs. “Business involvement is crucial to transforming ports into true renewable energy hubs,” de’ Medici said, adding that the adoption of innovative technologies and advanced energy models is a prerequisite for meeting the challenges of the future. The speech at IFEC reiterated ASSOCOSTIERI‘s vision of promoting a pragmatic and sustainable energy transition. The transformation of ports into renewable energy centers is a crucial step toward decarbonization, not only of the national logistics system, but of the entire maritime transport supply chain.

ASSOCOSTIERI Webinar: What’s New in the MASE Decree No. 294/2024

A webinar organized by ASSOCOSTIERI was held on Thursday, November 28, 2024, dedicated to an in-depth study of the main new features introduced by the MASE Decree No. 294 of August 7, 2024 , which innovates the National Certification System for biofuels and other renewable energy carriers. The event, for members only, was a key moment of discussion and update on a crucial topic for energy companies, which are facing increasingly complex regulatory requirements. During the webinar, new legal requirements were analyzed, with a special focus on sustainability documentation, a key element for reporting on biogenic products. The speakers highlighted how the proper management of certifications is now a strategic competence, necessary to ensure compliance and competitiveness in the marketplace.

Main interventions

• Lawyer Dario Soria, Director General of ASSOCOSTIERI, introduced the webinar by emphasizing the importance of the Decree for the energy transition and sustainability of the industry.
• Dr. Lorenzo Rossi, PMP-PMI®, explained the main institutes under the Decree, providing operational details and analyzing the practical implications for member companies.
• Dr. Carlo Troccoli (ASSOCOSTIERI SERVIZI S.R.L.), presented the new services made available by ASSOCOSTIERI SERVIZI to support companies in complying with regulatory requirements and optimizing certification procedures.

The webinar concluded with a question-and-answer (Q&A) session, during which participants had the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers. Practical insights emerged to address the challenges introduced by the new Decree, confirming the importance of continuing education to stay up-to-date on constantly evolving regulations.