Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi on the High-Stakes Race to Meet Energy Demand without Russian Gas: War and pandemic have not reduced the demand for energy.

This article focuses on Claudio Descalzi, CEO of the Italian energy company Eni, and the challenges of meeting energy demand in Europe amid the reduction of Russian gas supplies. Descalzi discusses Eni’s rapid efforts to diversify gas sources, primarily through investments in North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East, aiming to replace 100% of Russian gas to Italy by 2025. He outlines Eni’s ongoing transition from an oil and gas company to a diversified energy company targeting net zero emissions by 2050, emphasizing investments in bio refineries, carbon capture, and fusion technology. Descalzi also highlights the importance of balancing energy security, sustainability, and competitiveness, while addressing the internal cultural and technological transformations required within Eni to achieve these goals.