Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government is scaling back its phase-out of coal-fired power plants as part of its commitment to EU climate policies over growing energy challenges caused by the Iranian war. [some emphasis, links added]
Via Reuters:
Italy is set to postpone to 2038, 13 years later than originally planned, the permanent shutdown of its coal-fired power plants, according to a bill passed by the lower house of parliament on Tuesday.
The move signals the willingness of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government to dial down anti-climate-change policies in the face of growing energy supply challenges triggered by the conflict in Iran.
Italy has four coal-powered plants currently on stand-by, three of which are owned by the country’s largest utility, Enel.
Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said this month that they could be reactivated if the conflict in the Middle East were to provoke an energy crisis.
Under its 2024 energy and climate plan, Italy was due to abandon coal for good by the end of 2025.
The decree that postpones the deadline to 2038 still needs to be approved by the Senate, but that is widely expected, given government support.
The co-ruling League party, which pushed for the postponement, said it was “right and responsible” to reconsider abandoning coal in the light of the current “serious international energy crisis.”
Read rest at Reuters
