Italy Warns Coal May Return as Emergency Backup if Gas Prices Spike

(MENAFN) According to reports, Italy’s Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin has said the country could be forced to temporarily reactivate coal-fired power plants if natural gas prices rise above €70 per megawatt-hour.

Speaking at an energy meeting in Milan, the minister explained that current market prices remain significantly lower than that threshold, but warned that energy systems must remain prepared for extreme scenarios.

He noted that gas prices are currently around €40 per megawatt-hour, adding that earlier projections had placed expected levels lower than today’s figures. Despite this, he stressed that coal would only be considered a last-resort option in the event of an energy emergency.

The minister described coal as a residual backup resource rather than a preferred policy direction, but said contingency planning remains necessary to ensure energy stability during periods of market disruption.

He also addressed Italy’s long-term energy policy, stating that the country does not intend to return to Russian gas imports. He aligned this position with broader European policy, indicating that decisions on future energy sourcing would continue to be coordinated at the EU level.

At the same time, he pointed to ongoing instability in global energy markets, referencing geopolitical tensions and disruptions affecting key supply routes. He expressed hope that critical maritime corridors would remain open and that diplomatic negotiations involving major international actors could help stabilize the situation.

He concluded that energy conditions remain highly unpredictable, emphasizing that governments must remain flexible in responding to rapid changes in global supply and pricing dynamics.

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