11:59 - 5.03.2026

---

March 5, Fineko/abc.az. The escalation in the Persian Gulf is particularly affecting Italy, where half of the electricity is generated by gas; this could add 614-818 euros in household costs a year and increase utility bills by 166 euros due to risks to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and rising oil and gas prices.

ABC.AZ informs that against this background, Italian Minister of Environment & Energy Security Gilberto Piketto Fratin allowed the possibility of temporarily restarting coal-fired power plants in the event of a sharp rise in prices or shortage of fuel.

Interestingly, Rome had recently planned to completely phase out coal-fired generation by 2025 as part of its pan-European climate commitments and commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Italy remains one of the largest gas importers in Europe and receives supplies from Norway, Algeria and Azerbaijan, including through the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). However, experts point out that even supply diversification does not guarantee price stability amid geopolitical tensions.