Saipem, an Italian energy contractor, announced on Thursday that it had been awarded a contract for supervision and subsea interventions services in relation to the gas pipeline connecting Italy with Libya.

Saipem announced in a press release that the contract includes the management of survey and critical spare parts as well as the provision of engineering related to asset integrity, and possible repairs in case of damage.

The system can operate at depths up to 2,200 meters.

Why it's important

GreenStream is the longest pipeline in the Mediterranean Sea and is an important connection between Italy, North Africa, and the rest of the world. Its integrity is vital for Rome's security, after the amount of fuel that was sent to Italy via the pipeline from Russia decreased to zero last year.

By the Numbers

GreenStream, a 516-kilometre-long pipeline, connects Mellitah, a compression station located on the Libyan coastline, with Gela, Sicily. Libyan gas is delivered from two fields. First, Bahr Essalam is located 110 km off the coast of Libya and second, Wafa is in the Libyan desert, near the Algerian border. (Reporting and editing by Francesca Landini)