Egypt’s hydrogen strategy: Anticipation a month before COP27 (DW)
COP27 witnessed a flurry of deals. Egypt’s ambitions are taking shape, paving the way to changing political equilibria. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT: I anticipated the deals by a month, presenting Egypt’s strategy, one of the main outcomes of the conference.
Lebanon faces race against time to avoid financial collapse (DW)
Lebanon’s financial situation is deteriorating amid a rising political divide. International financial institutions say that it is up to the country to restore trust and overcome the current liquidity crisis. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT: First article about Lebanese financial crisis on the international press (October 2019)
Will European unity fall victim to coronavirus? (OZY)
Unless the EU comes up with a coordinated response to the crisis now, things could get worse, says Bocconi University professor Carlo Altomonte. “Rerunning the old movie of individual member states left exposed to market pressures and then ‘saved’ through austerity measures is going to disintegrate the Euro area this time,” he cautions. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT: A few weeks later, EC President von der Leyen underlined the same “mistakes” suggested in the article (March 2020)
Cooperation prospects and Conflict Lines in the Eastern Mediterranean (Tel Aviv University)
Unlike Egypt, Turkey does not have LNG export terminals, and has limited infrastructure at its disposal. All in all, despite its willingness to tap into any opportunity to raise its diplomatic profile, Turkey is not a potential commercial partner for Israel at the moment. As noted, the lack of gas infrastructure, combined with the current diplomatic complexities between the two countries, reduces the scope for collaboration. That is why, in the short term, Egypt is Israel’s most important partner in the region. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT: This academic article was written in July 2015, before ENI’s Zohr discovery. I anticipated the discovery-led narrative, analysing exiting data
Russia’s war in Ukraine endangers Moldova’s energy sector, politics (DW)
Ties between Russia and Moldova could deteriorate, and the energy sector could be, once more, the battlefield. A silent yet dangerous one. WHY I AM PROUD OF IT: It is the kind of story that requires an understanding of politics, geopolitics, and the energy sector. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT: Russia’s Putin regime will try to destablize Europe using the energy sector. Is Moldova a testing ground? I also interviewed Moldova’s PM for taz.
Why raw materials could impact speed of energy transition (DW)
Decarbonization is a complicated process as it implies a rethinking of how our economies can function smoothly. Currently, climate-neutral energy systems require significant amounts of critical raw materials for renewable energy installations and storage solutions. WHY I AM PROUD OF IT: I started speaking and discussing raw materials and their geopolitical nature, way before other colleagues (summer/autumn 2021). WHY IT IS IMPORTANT: Without critical raw materials, the room for energy transition is fairly limited.
Court study cuts CIR damages in Mondadori case-source (Reuters)
An assessment ordered by a court could cut by up to 41 percent the compensation owed by Fininvest to CIR SpA in a case involving a 1990s takeover battle for publishing group Mondadori, a source close to the case said on Friday. WHY I AM PROUD OF IT: As a fresh intern at Reuters, while all my senior colleagues gave up on this story, I tried my best. And it paid out. Il Sole 24 Ore wrote a similar story a week later. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT: Strong political overtones for former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (September 2010)
Coronavirus hits heart of Italy’s economy (DW)
As restrictive measures are being enforced in northern Italy to contain the coronavirus outbreak, Italy edges toward recession. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT: First to underline the financial repercussions of coronavirus in Northern Italy (February 2020).
Nord Stream II Project: Old Solution to New Problem(s) (ISPI)
All in all, the blocs of countries and companies able to make stronger cases and impose their interpretations of the existing laws will be the ones winning this (potentially fratricide) confrontation (November 2016). WHY IT IS IMPORTANT: I have been the one journalist speaking continuously about Nord Stream II since 2015, first for Natural Gas Europe, then for ISPI think tank, then for Staffetta Quotidiana, but also also as an expert for several media outlets (e.g. RAI Radio)
sergiomatalucci.com 