Italy's energy chief warns of street protests without EU action on fuel crisis
The president of the Camera di Commercio Venezia Giulia has called for an urgent international political response to the energy crisis, warning that without EU intervention Italy could see citizens and businesses take to the streets in protest.
Antonio Paoletti, speaking at the Festival del Cambiamento held in Trieste and Gorizia on 5 and 6 October under the theme 'Energia senza frontiere', said that while domestic policy on nuclear and renewables is moving in the right direction, the vulnerability of maritime supply routes demands a broader rethink at European level.
The warning from Trieste
Paoletti told the festival that Italy's energy mix remains heavily reliant on imports — natural gas, hydroelectric, photovoltaic, wind, biomass and geothermal — while other European nations have maintained or developed nuclear capacity. He noted that fuel costs have risen significantly over the past 20 years, hitting households and businesses alike.
The 2026 energy shock has taken a different form, he said, exposing the fragility of sea routes. Exports of refined products and LPG from the Gulf remain well below pre-crisis levels, and a normalisation of flows is not yet in sight.
What is happening at sea
Research shows that maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz — a passage critical for roughly one-fifth of global oil and a significant share of liquefied natural gas — have been effectively blocked or deemed high-risk amid missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels. LNG tanker traffic through the strait has ground almost to a halt.
An attack on the Ras Laffan complex in Qatar, the world's largest LNG production site, has destroyed 17 per cent of Qatari capacity, with repairs expected to take three to five years. European gas prices have surged past €80/MWh in October 2026, with some analysts warning of potential shortages by winter if Gulf supplies do not normalise.
The European picture
Paoletti pointed to protests already unfolding in France and Spain. In France, fishermen have coordinated blockades of oil facilities, and a broader mobilisation is threatened for 17 October — evoking memories of the gilet gialli movement. The French government has proposed extending fuel subsidies to 31 December 2026.
In Spain, protests over housing costs have drawn thousands into the streets, leading Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to call early elections for 29 November after parliament rejected housing decrees.
Paoletti argued that Europe must act immediately with both support policies and diplomatic efforts to find solutions to ongoing conflicts. Without that intervention, he warned, the risk is that Italian citizens and businesses will also take to the streets to protest energy costs.
What this means for Italy
Italy imported 51.8 TWh of electricity in 2025, down 7.4 per cent from 2024, covering roughly 16 per cent of national demand. Gas imports fell to 59.1 billion cubic metres in 2024, down 4 per cent from 2023, with Algeria remaining the dominant supplier at 21.1 bcm.
The Italian government has moved to unblock next-generation nuclear power, a step Paoletti endorsed as 'the right way'. He also praised the Friuli Venezia Giulia region for its support of renewable energy.
Gas reserves in Italy stood at above 78 per cent in mid-August 2026, though below levels recorded in the same period of 2025.
