Jan. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Eni SpA, owner of Italy’s natural-gas import infrastructure, will help check that Russian gas is delivered to western Europe via Ukraine without interruptions, Italian Industry Minister Claudio Scajola said.

Eni representatives will join the European and Russian monitoring group overseeing gas transit, Scajola said today in an e-mailed statement. Russia and the European Union yesterday clinched a deal on monitoring gas shipments through Ukraine, paving the way for the resumption of deliveries to EU countries.

Russian gas-export monopoly OAO Gazprom halted transit flows on Jan. 7 after accusing Ukraine of diverting gas intended for other buyers for its own use. The supply cutoff renewed calls for EU nations to diversify sources and boost inventories.

A similar dispute interrupted gas supplies in January 2006. France’s GDF Suez SA, OMV AG of Austria, Czech trader RWE Transgas and German utility E.ON AG have also said they’re dispatching monitors.

To contact the reporter on this story: Adam L. Freeman in Rome at afreeman5@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: January 9, 2009 07:54 EST