The government may reactivate Italy’s coal plants if the price of gas reaches 70 euro per megawatt hour, Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said on Monday.

“If gas prices exceed 70 euros per megawatt hour, it may be necessary to reactivate the coal-fired power plants,” Pichetto Fratin told reporters on the sidelines of the ‘Holy Grail of Energy’ meeting in Milan.

“That’s a high figure. It is currently around €40…

“Coal remains a residual solution, but we must be ready if necessary”.

Italy has four ⁠coal-fired plants – two of which are in service in Sardinia while two others have been turned off but not dismantled.

These two, at Civitavecchia and Brindisi, can be turned back on if necessary following a series of technical and administrative procedures.

The government said last month that it is postponing the permanent shut down of its coal-powered plants by 13 years to 2038 after the outbreak of the Iran war.