CEO Stefano Venier said this, adding that Snam's influence on the liquefied natural gas terminal would change accordingly.

Exxon Mobil is currently in talks with global energy trader Vitol to sell a majority stake in Italy's main LNG import terminal, sources told Reuters.

Snam, which has a right of first refusal, currently owns 7.3 percent of the terminal, while QatarEnergy holds the rest.

"There is an agreement with the current shareholders that Snam could increase its stake to 15 percent or 30 percent ... this would be linked to changes in our powers," Venier told reporters during a presentation of the group's strategy.

These comments shed light on negotiations for the terminal, which is becoming increasingly important as Italy increases LNG capacity to replace Russian gas imports.

If Snam were to increase its stake to 30 percent, it could have a say in the selection of Adriatic Lng's CEO, but it would not have the right to choose him on its own, Venier said.

The group owns all or part of the four terminals currently operating in Italy and is building a new terminal off Ravenna.

Snam is also in negotiations to buy three gas storage sites from Edison and will submit a more defined non-binding offer for these sites by the end of the month, Venier said.

However, in the new offer the group will not propose swapping some of its biogas assets with Edison as part of the deal, he added, debunking press rumors.

On the other hand, Snam is considering selling its 24 percent stake in the Belgium-Britain interconnector, Chief Financial Officer Luca Passa said at the same event. According to press rumors, the stake could be worth about 100 million euros.

It would be difficult to sell the group's 6 percent stake in Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), Passa said, adding that the sale would be considered only if a potential investment in an asset with a similar return emerged.

According to the new business plan, Snam will invest 11.5 billion euros by 2027 to expand its infrastructure to support Italy's energy transition, 15 percent more than in the previous plan.

The group will focus on building a new gas pipeline and completing LNG infrastructure.

It will also invest in energy transition activities, including a hub for carbon dioxide capture and storage and the development of a European hydrogen network that will require an investment of 4 billion euros, Passa said.

(Francesca Landini, translated by Luca Fratangelo, editing Sabina Suzzi)