A mooted gas interconnector pipeline between Spain and Italy has lost strategic relevance in light of Italy’s own investment in regasification capacity for natural gas, the head of Italy’s grid operator Snam said on Thursday.

Addressing investors during a presentation call for Snam’s strategic plan 2022-2026, Snam’s chief executive Stefano Venier confirmed that discussions with Spanish counterparts had taken place to evaluate the viability of a pipeline connection, but noted that the outlook for such a project has changed.

Spain has six active onshore regasification terminals dotted along its coastline, offering some 60.8