Determined to stop red tape halting renewables - Draghi

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 19 - Premier Mario Draghi told the Senate on Thursday that his government remains committed to cutting greenhouse emissions even with the energy-security problems caused by the war in Ukraine and would take action to boost renewables.
    Draghi said there was "utmost determination to eliminate bureaucratic limits on renewables and destroy the barriers on investments" as he reported to parliament on the war in Ukraine after meeting United States President Joe Biden at the White House last week.
    "During my visit to Washington I told President Biden about the Italian energy strategy and we agree on the importance of maintaining the climate commitments, which Italy intends to respect," the premier added.
    The premier said that the energy strategy still features gas, even though it is a greenhouse-emitting fossil fuel.
    "We need it as a fuel of transition" he said.
    Italy has been reaching agreements to boost gas flows from several countries to replace Russian gas after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
    Around 40% of the gas Italy currently imports come fro Russia.
    He said the government had "moved rapidly" to diversify suppliers. (ANSA).