Antonino Galofaro (in Castelmezzano, Italy), edited by Juliette Moreau Alvarez
modified to
11:52 a.m., November 06, 2022
In the region of Basilicata, one of the poorest in Italy, the gas bill is now reduced. The inhabitants will no longer pay for the raw material thanks to an agreement made with the oil companies. A discount welcomed with open arms by individuals, especially in Castelmezzano.
At a time when energy prices are exploding because of the war in Ukraine, in Basilicata, a very poor region in southern Italy, gas is now free. Thanks to an agreement with the oil companies, the inhabitants will no longer pay for the raw material, a measure that has become necessary in this region as rich in hydrocarbons as the inhabitants are poor.
At the foot of the majestic Dolomites with their summit in the shape of sharp teeth, the town of Castelmezzano with its 750 inhabitants and its houses with yellow or orange facades which contrast with the surrounding greenery. Francesco lives isolated, at the entrance to the village. This Italian, who warms up and cooks with gas, intends to save money this winter. “Certainly, over a year, it will do us good because removing €35 from a fortnightly bill of €150. It’s a positive factor”, he explains. Only the raw material is free, not the management and transport costs or the gas meter.
Businesses and tourist activities on the sidelines
In the heart of the village, a few tourists have a coffee in a small bar after a walk in the shade of the mountains. Activities like this, which make the village live, cannot benefit from the reduction reserved for households. A subtlety that the mayor, Nicola Rocco Valluzzi, regrets. “The measure absolutely does not concern the productive world. There are activities that have closed or are about to close because of the increase in the price of invoices.”
The bitterness of the Italian elected official is also fueled by geography. Castelmezzano is located just a few kilometers from the Total gas site.