Energy security: what it is and why it matters

Energy security means a country can rely on energy supplies that meet its needs at reasonable prices. It rests on three pillars:

• availability: sufficient resources to meet demand

• affordability: fair prices for households and businesses  

• reliability: continuity of supply over time. 

   

Strengthening energy security reduces the risk of supply disruptions, increases stability and crisis-response capability, and supports the shift to low-emission systems. Recent global emergencies have shown how crucial it is to make production and distribution more resilient to face complex, fast-changing scenarios.

Energy supply includes all the activities required to ensure the availability of energy, from sources through to end users. It differs from production because it does not only concern the generation of energy - such as natural gas extraction - but also includes logistics, transport, storage and the import of the energy needed to meet demand.

In Italy, supply is based on a mix of traditional sources, particularly natural gas, alongside electricity from renewables and bioenergy, supported by strategic infrastructure such as gas pipelines, regasification terminals, storage facilities and power grids. A secure supply calls for diversified sources and systems capable of handling consumption peaks, limiting the risk of interruptions and instability.

Diversifying sources means avoiding dependence on a single source or a single country. Integrating natural gas, renewables, bioenergy and low-carbon solutions reduces risks linked to market fluctuations and geopolitical tensions, fostering a more resilient and sustainable system.

Contributing to secure and stable supplies requires an integrated approach that includes:

• development of strategic infrastructure and storage capacity 

• strenghtening of transport networks and interconnection systems

• diversification of the energy mix, including renewables and biofuels 

• international cooperation and long-term agreements with producing countries.

Eni helps promote and reinforce energy security in two ways: on the one hand, it expands and diversifies natural gas supplies, developing new opportunities via pipeline and by ship; on the other, it focuses on diversifying the overall energy mix by investing in renewables, bioenergy and low-carbon solutions along the entire value chain.

A more secure energy system has a positive impact on the economy because it ensures continuity of supply and price stability, supporting business competitiveness and social equity in access to energy. It also supports the energy transition by enabling long-term investment and policy-making with greater confidence. Supporting and promoting energy security means reducing vulnerabilities in the economic and social system and enhancing resilience, laying solid foundations for sustainable growth.