The European Climate, Environment and Infrastructure Executive Agency has allocated €24 million in funding towards the development of the Italian H2 Backbone hydrogen project, which forms part of the extensive SoutH2 Corridor connecting Europe to North Africa. The grant, awarded in June, was given to the gas network operator Snam to support engineering and environmental studies related to the project. The SoutH2 Corridor, a massive 3,300 km hydrogen pipeline system, is designed to have an import capacity of 4 million tons per annum, facilitating the transportation of hydrogen from North Africa to southern Germany. The project involves collaboration between transmission system operators such as Snam in Italy, bayernets in Germany, and the Trans Austria Gas Pipeline and Gas Connect Austria in Austria. The Italian H2 Backbone project aims to establish a transport network spanning approximately 1,900 km, with a significant portion being converted from existing gas infrastructure. Additionally, the project includes the installation of several hundred MW of compression stations along the pipeline route. The targeted timeline for the completion and operation of the pipeline is set for the year 2030, marking a significant step towards enhancing hydrogen infrastructure and facilitating cross-border hydrogen transport.