THE MATTEI' CASE: OIL, POWER AND BLOOD

Events that shaped the countries of the Mediterranean

An episode from the series ECHOES OF HISTORY

Synopsis

In the aftermath of the Second World War, Italy was battered and trying to make a comeback by focusing on a solid energy policy.

The man who embodied this approach was Enrico Mattei, who, in 1953, founded ENI, the national oil company. In agreement with the government, he embarked on a policy supporting the independence struggles of colonized peoples and guaranteed better crude oil purchasing conditions for producing countries.

As early as 1958, the Italian leader established strong ties with the leaders of the Algerian revolution, convinced that the country would eventually triumph over French colonialism.