The reform of port governance should take into account the specificity of strategic energy infrastructures present in Italian ports, essential elements to ensure security of supply, business continuity energy supply chains and development of the energy transition. This was highlighted during today's hearing at the IX Transport, Post and Telecommunications Committee of the Chamber of Deputies deputies, Dario Soria, director general of Assocostieri, the association that represents companies operating in the Energy logistics by managing coastal product depots LNG terminals and depots, and infrastructure dedicated to new transport fuels maritime.

"We fully share the objectives of the reform and the desire to make the Italian port system more efficient, attractive and competitive - explained Soria - at the same time We believe it is essential that the new regulatory framework avoids leaps forward, such as the provision of a procedure ultra-simplified for the variants to the Port Master Plans, applicable not only - as it should be - to works intended for the construction of strategic infrastructures for maritime transport of national and international importance but even to urgent works not better defined to be carried out in ports still equipped with a pre-existing Port Master Plan".

"It is also necessary - added the director general of Assocostieri - definitively overcoming the misunderstanding according to which the principles of contestability and competitive selection of concessions pursuant to art. 18 of the Law No. 84/1994 and Interministerial Decree No. 202/2022 would also be applied to the strategic infrastructures of the oil, LNG and marine bunkering sectors represented by Assocostieri".

During the hearing, the association also highlighted the opportunity to strengthen coordination between the reform of the port governance and the legislation governing the strategic energy infrastructure, in order to ensure regulatory certainty, continuity of investments and full Operations of assets that perform a function of interest national team.

"Ports," said Soria, "are increasingly hubs energy as well as logistics. For this reason, it is important that the evolution of port governance proceeds in harmony with the energy security and decarbonisation objectives. The proposals presented by Assocostieri go in this direction: to contribute to an effective reform, capable of supporting both the growth of the port system and the development of infrastructures necessary for the future of the country".