Natural gas will play a crucial role as a bridging fuel in the energy transition but that does not mean that developing supply of the fossil fuel is in direct conflict with the quest to decarbonise, according to Eni chief executive Claudio Descalzi, who added that the Italian energy major will continue to expand its upstream business.

Descalzi highlighted the key role of natural gas as Eni became the latest oil and gas major to post record financial results for 2022, fuelled by the soaring energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last February.