MILAN- Italian energy group Edison is teaming up with Kuwait Petroleum Italia to build a small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage plant in the port of Naples, the companies said on Thursday.

The plant, which is yet to be authorised, will make LNG readily available in the region to fuel trucks and ships and cut carbon emissions.

"The project is a key part of our strategy that looks to create the first LNG logistical supply chain in the country to make heavy maritime and road transport sustainable," said Edison manager Pierre Vergerio.

Edison, a unit of French power giant EDF, has put decarbonising transport at the heart of its strategy, along with renewable energy and energy efficiency. It is already building an LNG storage plant in the Italian port of Ravenna.

As part of its climate strategy Italy's ruling coalition is looking to LNG as an option to replace diesel fuel in heavy-purpose vehicles like trucks and ships that are difficult to electrify.

(Reporting by Stephen Jewkes; editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) ((stephen.jewkes@thomsonreuters.com; +39.0266129695; Reuters Messaging: stephen.jewkes.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))