GreenergyDaily
Aug. 12, 2025
Giorgia Meloni’s government is considering plans to curb Chinese investors’ holdings at key companies to avoid potential tensions with the US.
Italy’s efforts would involve firms that are considered strategic, both privately held and state-controlled, according to people familiar with the matter.
Tiremaker Pirelli & C. SpA, where China’s state-owned Sinochem International Corp. has a 37% holding, is one of the most notable examples of Meloni’s government strategy, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
While Sinochem has said its stake in the tiremaker is a long-term investment, Rome is evaluating options that would pressure the Asian investor to sell, the people said.
Pirelli is just the most extreme of the cases before the Italian government, which would also like to oust Chinese investors from CDP Reti SpA, according to other people familiar with the matter. The firm, with controlling stakes in Italy’s energy grids, is 35% owned by a unit of State Grid Corporation of China, which has two board directors who can influence decision-making, the people said.
Another is Ansaldo Energia SpA, one of the world’s biggest producers of power plants. Even if Shanghai Electric has already cut its stake from 40% to 0.5%, the Chinese presence is still blocking it from taking part in some power bids and tenders in the US, a person familiar with the matter said.
There are about 700 Italian companies with Chinese investors, but the government’s attention is focused primarily on large entities in strategic sectors like energy, transport, technology, and finance.
A spokesperson for Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that China-Italy investment cooperation is mutually beneficial and should not be interfered with by a third party.
“The Chinese government has always supported Chinese enterprises in international cooperation on the basis of market-based principles, and hopes that Italy will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises and effectively safeguard their legitimate rights and interests,” the spokesperson said.
