07 December 2023

Italy, Hungary, and North Macedonia delay coal exits

Italy, 2025 to 2027: All coal plants in Italy plan to close by 2025 except Sulcis (590 MW) on Sardinia. Delayed interconnections threaten to push back Sulcis’ closure to 2027, and as a consequence, Italy’s national coal phase-out to the same year. 

Hungary, 2025 to 2027: The Hungarian government extended its last remaining coal plant’s (Matra 884 MW) closure date until a new combined cycle gas turbine power plant – slated to enter operation in 2027 at the earliest – is ready to replace it, thereby pushing their coal exit until 2027. 

North Macedonia, 2027 to 2030: In November 2023, the Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi backtracked on the country’s PPCA coal phase-out commitment of 2027, saying North Macedonia has “set an ambitious goaI to completely reduce and exclude the use of coal for electricity production by 2030”.