Paolo Romani, Italy's minister of economic development, has stated that due to the crisis in Libya and the rejection by referendum of the Italian government's nuclear power program, the Italian government aims to increase domestic production of gas and crude oil.
Minister Romani stated, "We expect a significant contribution to national hydrocarbon production as early as this year. Developments are expected in the Basilicata region, where production will increase by more than 90,000 barrels per day to reach seven percent of domestic consumption."
The minister went on to say that the government aims to increase Italian offshore production, where the country "boasts a world record in terms of safety and where there is the possibility of increasing our production of gas, now at seven billion cubic meters a year, by a further three billion."