The deal could also see the Italian oil and gas group cut its controlling stake in Italy's gas transmission grid operator, Snam Rete Gas, one of the sources said.
"There are talks under way between Eni and the EU Commission regarding the sale of all or part [of the pipelines] to public bodies. The earlier it's done, the better," an Italian diplomatic source in Brussels told Reuters.
Eni said in a statement it was not considering decreasing its stake in Snam Rete Gas. It had earlier declined to comment on a possible deal with the European Union.
Eni, the world's seventh-largest listed oil company, faces EU antitrust charges that it restricted rivals' access to its international gas pipelines in a probe dating from 2007 (EurActiv 14/05/07).
Eni owns 89% of the TAG pipeline, which carries Russian gas into Italy. It also owns 49% of the TENP and 46% of the Transitgas pipelines, which transport gas from the north.
Press reports have said the EU could impose a fine of more than 500 million euros.
One option Eni is considering is to sell ownership of the TENP and Transitgas pipelines, a source close to the operation said. It would then sell transit rights on the TAG pipeline to state-owned financial holding Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP).
Another option on the table is for Eni to sell the assets to Snam and then cut its controlling 52.54% stake by "selling to the Treasury and CDP 27% of Snam," another source said.
The three gas pipelines could be worth around 1.5 billion euros, the source said.
Italy's energy regulator has repeatedly called for Eni to cut its stake in Snam.
(EurActiv with Reuters.)
