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 Assesment” 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 COP28.

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.

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 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.

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.

Currently, AN continues providing 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 …).

AN is also COO and 5% Shareholder of Olbia LNG Terminal Srl, a company established in December 2019 for providing Natural Gas to Olbia and to the North East of Sardinia (Gallura – Costa Smeralda).

In summer 2020, AN launched the “Olbia EnerClima2050” integrated Project based on the biogenic Carbon Cycle for shaping the energy sector of the territory towards the carbon neutrality, as requested by the European Green Deal and CO28 by 2050. The Project consists in a 40,000m³ LNG > LBM Terminal, a 180MW CCPP and an Algae Crop, for an initial decarbonization stage based on fossil-LNG “transition fuel” for the replacement of coal and oil with clean-gas for Power and Mobility, and, subsequently, the progressive replacement of fossil-LNG with “renewable” bio-LNG (Liquid Bio Methane: LBM) sourced by an integrated virtuous circular CCU economy: whereby the CO2 released by the exhausts of the power plant gas turbines are cooled (to vaporize LNG/LBM) and recycled into an Algae plantation; relevant biomass residues are converted into biogas, upgraded into bio-methane, injected into the local gas-grid and liquefied at the Olbia LNG Terminal, where LNG/LBM is stored, regasified ad fed once again to the gas turbines … to repeat this virtuous Carbon Cycle inexhaustibly … achieving the target of generating useful energy from solar energy in balance with the environment. The LNG>LBM Terminal and the relevant Combined Cycle Power Plant also act as “strategic energy storage” and “peak-shaving/load-levelling” units to provide a one month strategic storage to the territory and to balance the fluctuations of power supply/demand sourced by the other intermittent renewable energy sources (photovoltaic, wind and hydro).

The Project obtained the NOF (feasibility safety clearance) by the Regional Technical Committee on January 4^th 2023, but its Environmental and Health Impact Assessment (VIA-VIS) application was rejected by the Italian Ministries on May 2^nd 2024, because the Ministry of Culture & Landscape does not approve new industrial “visible” infrastructures and the Ministry of Health rejects new emissions in this touristic territory (despite the indirect lowering of emissions, achieved by replacing current burning of oil & coal with gas & electricity and the lowering and hiding of the industrial infrastructures behind a planted embankment). In addition the new Italian National Energy Strategic Plan (PNIEC) excludes new gas fuelled power plants.

This “LNG-transition” to “LBM-destination” energy transition concept could be repeated in any territory worldwide, possibly integrated in a bio-refinery producing bio-ethanol (E85-E90) biodiesel and HVO (B100), bio-LPG and green-hydrogen/methanol/DME sourced by biomass gasification (which is a better energy-self-sustaining solution compared to the water electrolysis option, requiring 10 times more external energy, heavily effecting the grid capacity and stability).

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).

- Consulting to Assocostieri and private Energy Groups (current).