Italy's coal imports locked in limbo

摘要

The new Italian Government has been told that Italy needs to use "less natural gas, which is expensive and carries obvious implications in terms of security of supply, and more coal and renewable [energy]". That was the message from Andrea Clavarino, chairman of Assocarboni, the Italian coal association, delivered during its 2014 National Congress held in Rome in March. While coal imports in Europe are increasing, with a 3% rise last year, Italy's thermal coal imports declined by 5% to 18 Mt, while the coal-fired share in its electricity mix remains equivalent to one third of the European average.