Israel can play an important role in Italy's energy diversification efforts, said Minister of Industry Giancarlo Giorgetti, Reuters reported.

Cooperation between the two countries can help advance infrastructure projects such as the Eastmed gas pipeline, he said.

"Israel confirms itself as an important partner in the diversification of energy sourcing, also through liquefied natural gas (LNG)," Industry Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said in a statement after meeting Israel's Infrastructure, Energy and Hydro Resources Minister Karine Elharrar in Jerusalem.

Italy currently receives about 40% of its gas imports from Russia and is looking to diversify its energy sources. Israel, Greece and Cyprus have approved an agreement on the EastMed subsea gas pipeline, designed to supply gas to Europe from the eastern Mediterranean.

These countries are expected to decide this year on the viability of the €6 billion project that Turkey opposes and which has also raised doubts in the US administration.

As part of its diversification efforts, a government-led Italian delegation visited Angola and the Republic of the Congo last week, while the Italian energy group Eni signed an agreement to increase gas supplies from the Republic of the Congo by more than 4.5 billion cubic meters per year.