After Minister Costa's flat rejection of drilling and the clash between the 5 Star Movement and the League over the issue, the government has reached an agreement providing for the suspension of offshore exploration for 18 months rather than three years.
The 5 Star Movement and the League have reached a compromise on the issue of drilling, finally arriving at an agreement after the Minister of the Environment, Sergio Costa, had threatened to resign should the rules on drilling be softened as the League had hoped. This was confirmed this morning by Mauro Coltorti, chair of the Public Works committee.
The proposal, which will be presented during the day in the decreto semplificazioni, provides for the suspension of offshore hydrocarbon exploration for just 18 months rather than three years as initially announced, as well as an increase in concession fees of 25 times rather than 35. At the very least, all new platform projects are being blocked.
"The alternatives exist: they are called renewable energy sources," said Costa. "If investment is needed, that is the direction to go." Italy ranks third in the European Union for clean energy consumption, but the minister's goal is to boost its production.
