The high cost of energy is a real emergency for the Italian manufacturing sectors that are facing a sharp increase in the cost of energy commodities, with particular reference to the price of natural gas and electricity.

We report the statements of Unionplast, FederlegnoArredo and Confindustria.
 

Unionplast's shout of alarm

"The manufacturing sector of plastics processing is, in spite of itself, facing a dramatic increase in the cost of energy commodities, which is putting the survival of our companies at risk": this is what Unionplast, the Federation of Rubber and Plastics of Confindustria, states in a press release.

In fact, the price of electricity continues to record values and these increases are a consequence of the exponential growth of natural gas prices: the MGP price published by GME in December 2021 was 113,344 €/Mwh, growing in this case by more than 688% compared to December 2020.

"It is clear - we still read in the note - that increases of this magnitude cannot be absorbed by our companies. Although plastic has undoubted advantages related to its intrinsic lightness that make it one of the most sustainable materials for packaging, the energy requirements for its transformation remain very high. The sector is making enormous efforts to drastically reduce energy consumption in its factories, but in the short term, increases of this magnitude cannot be absorbed by our companies".
 

High cost of energy: FederlegnoArredo's requests

Also Claudio Feltrin, president of FederlegnoArredo, affirms that the great increase in the cost of energy seriously jeopardizes the recovery of the country, because, more or less directly, all sectors are affected, as well as consumers.

Faced with this serious situation, Feltrin asks the Government to review the measures taken through the "Decreto legge Sostegni", measures that appear insufficient and emergency.

"It is clear to everyone - explained Feltrin - that there is a disproportion between the incidence that the increase in energy prices has on companies and on their stability and the measures provided. To think that they are sufficient, as reported on the site of the Mise, 1.2 billion to cancel the system charges in the first quarter of 2022 and 540 million for contributions in the form of tax credit equal to 20% of electricity expenses, is like inviting those who thought they were going to dinner to have an aperitif. We therefore ask the Government to intervene as soon as possible with a stronger and more incisive action".

The most urgent measures proposed by Confindustria

On 27 January a new meeting was held between Confindustria and the Government on the problem of high cost of energy. The objective of the meeting was to share possible actions to counter the dramatic impact of energy costs on the production system with potentially serious social and economic consequences for the country.

The difficult situation threatens to permanently paralyze the Italian industrial system that requires a decisive intervention of industrial policy with immediate economic and structural effects, as well as a long-term planning.
The most urgent measures proposed by Confindustria relate to the sale of domestic gas production to the industrial sectors for 10 years with an anticipation of financial benefits for the year 2022, the immediate intervention for the sale of renewable energy to industrial sectors at risk of closure of electricity "delivered to the GSE", the increase in the rates of relief for the parafiscal components of the electricity bill within the limits provided by European legislation (art. 39 electric ex Com200/2014/EU).