Basilicata accounted for the highest onshore natural gas production, with roughly 1.1 billion cubic meters in 2023. Sicily followed far behind, with a production amounting to 160 million cubic meters.  Â
Italy's natural gas production and consumption
The domestic natural gas production in Italy decreased by over six billion cubic meters between 2007 and 2022. Additionally, Italy's number of natural gas producing wells decreased over time. This is true for both onshore and offshore wells. On the other hand, the level of natural gas consumption in Italy fluctuated over the past few years and amounted to 65 billion cubic meters in 2022.
Natural gas trade
Italy strongly relies on external suppliers of natural gas to cover the domestic natural gas demand. Until 2021, Russia was the main natural gas provider, with almost 30 billion cubic meters of imported gas. After the trade restrictions imposed as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, imports from Russia decreased sensibly. Algeria and liquified natural gas (LNG), regasified in Italian offshore plants, were the main natural gas suppliers to Italy in 2022 and 2023.