Italy's Snam improves 2022 net profit guidance

MILAN (Reuters) - Italian gas grid operator Snam on Wednesday improved its guidance for full-year net profit after sales in the first half rose nearly 10% to 1.6 billion euros ($1.63 billion).

The group said it had contributed to Italy's efforts to reduce its dependence from Russian energy by purchasing around 2 billion cubic metres of natural gas and acquiring two new floating storage and regasification units.

Snam, which runs most of Italy's gas storage capacity, said the country's storage was 71% full as of July 25, on track to meet the government's winter target of 90%.

($1 = 0.9841 euros)

(Reporting by Francesca Landini; editing by Agnieszka Flak)