Italy holds sufficient natural gas stockpiles to meet demand for the next two months, although the current price dispute between Russia and Ukraine is a "difficult" one, Industry Minister Claudio Scajola said Thursday.
"We will be able to guarantee gas and power to households and companies," Scajola said in an interview on Canale 5 television channel.
The Italian minister also said he expects the pricing dispute between Moscow and Kiev to be resolved in the next few days.
Italy's Emergency Gas Committee, made up of government institutions as well as executives from energy companies, is slated to meet in Rome at 0930 GMT to discuss the latest developments on the gas dispute between Ukraine and Russia's OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS).
Scajola also said a government bill going through parliament will allow for the resumption of gas extraction in the northern Italian section of the Adriatic Sea as part of the efforts to reduce reliance on imports.