Antonio Nicotra – Biography

Antonio Nicotra (1950, Doctor in Organic Chemistry by the University of Catania, 1973 “summa cum laude”) is expert in energy systems and specialist in Oil & Gas, with over 50 years of activity in the fossil & renewable fuels sectors, always aiming at optimizing energy sustainability on “Life Cycle Assessment” basis and on the progressive replacement of fossil fuels with the corresponding molecules of biological/renewable origin, to achieve the “Net-Zero Emission” of greenhouse gases goal of “carbon-neutrality”, for Energy in balance with Climate by 2050 according to the EU Green Deal and COP resolutions.

He deals with all three sections of the energy supply chain:

- Upstream: analysis of the territory's renewable energy resources with recommendation of best NZE options to implement the possible conversion of traditional refineries into biorefineries.

- Logistics: conversion of transmission networks and strategic storages towards bio/green energy.

- Downstream: conversion to most efficient & sustainable final applications of energy, such as hybrid micro-turbines and hydrogen fuel cells.

Currently, AN provides advisory services for expediting the energy transition from the more polluting fossil fuels to LPG and LNG and ultimately to their corresponding renewable molecules (bio-LPG and bio-LNG), not excluding the other green-e-fuels (hydrogen, Ammonia, eDME, EthOH, MethOH, HVO …) and direct electric generation from hydro, solar, wind and also nuclear power, if sustainable.

Before retiring in 2017, AN was the Head of the "LNG for Transport" activities of the Gasfin Group (2008-2017), a private Luxembourg holding company, reference shareholder of TGE Gas Engineering GmbH and TGE Marine Gas Engineering SA (specialist in LNG engineering & construction of LNG Terminals and LNG carriers) promoter of innovative solutions for the production, transport and use of LNG for smaller energy centres (SS-LNG) not reachable by the gas pipeline network and for all types of mobility: maritime, land by road or rail and aviation.

In 2016-2017, he was President and Partner of Liquimet S.p.A., a Gasfin Group company established in 2016 in Italy to develop and build a network of LNG refuelling infrastructures in the transport strategic hubs of the Italian TEN-T corridors. The first implementation was the LCNG refuelling station of the Interporto di Padova, which receives the LNG in 40ft ISO-containers by train directly from Rotterdam.

In 2010-2014, he was Managing Director of Air-LNG GmbH, a Gasfin subsidiary focused on developing the cryogenic infrastructures needed to use LNG or Hydrogen in aircrafts, under a Lufo IV German Government sponsored program, in consortium with EADS, Airbus and Lufthansa.

Previously, AN held various position in the Suez-Tractebel (2003-2008), Enimont (1991-1997), Foskor (1984-1991) and ENI (1973-1984) Groups, in Italy and abroad.

AN has also been a member of several LNG-related Institutions & Associations:

- ILNAS Delegate (Luxembourg Institute of Standardization) for CEN-TC 326 (European Technical Committee for: “Natural Gas Vehicles - Fuelling and Operations” for the implementing the European Standards for NG Vehicles refuelling stations and operation; he was coordinator of the 5^th working group related to use and operation of LNG vehicles).

- Member of the IGU WOC5.3 (International Gas Union, 5.3 Working Committee for Use of Gas in Natural Gas Vehicles).

- Coordinator of NGVA Europe for the “Working Group LNG and L-CNG Stations”.

- Consulting for the implementation of the GAINN_IT initiative of the Italian Ministry of Transports (LNG infrastructure for transport in accordance with Italian Decree 257 and European DAFI Directive 2014/94/EU, co-financed under the EU CEF 2014-2019 program).