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MILAN, April 29 Reuters Eni will press ahead with plans to find alternative gas supplies following Russia39;s invasion of Ukraine after firstquarter profits soared above expectations on booming prices.

The Italian energy group is looking to use its presence in Africa to provide 14 trillion cubic feet of extra gas and more liquefied natural gas LNG to help Europe cut its reliance on Russian supplies.

We rapidly reacted to the ongoing challenges of the energy market…to find alternative and additional supply opportunities for Europe, Chief Executive Claudio Descalzi said on Friday.

Descalzi has travelled with Italian ministers to several producer countries in Africa to secure alternative supplies, signing deals with Algeria, Angola, Egypt and Congo Republic.

Eni, whose main shareholder is the state, is one of the biggest wholesale buyers of Russian gas, importing 30 billion cubic metres last year.

It is weighing its options over the payment scheme Russia introduced for buying its gas, sources said. 

Descalzi said the first quarter marked clear progress in executing our strategy of delivering security and sustainability of the energy system.

The conflict in Ukraine sent commodity prices higher when tight supplies and resurgent demand after COVID19 had already shaken markets.

In the first three months, Eni…