Eni's five-fold profit rise puts Puglia's energy future in focus

Eni, the Italian energy giant, reported a five-fold increase in second-quarter profits on Wednesday, becoming the latest oil major to benefit from surging crude prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East, according to The Local Italy.

The state-controlled company's results come as Italy grapples with its long-term energy strategy, caught between the immediate profitability of fossil fuels and the European Union's push for decarbonisation. Puglia, home to one of the country's largest oil refineries and a growing renewable energy sector, is closely watching Eni's investment plans.