Key facts
- Italy's Senate approved a government plan to restart nuclear power generation.
- The plan aims to deploy advanced modular reactors.
- The government estimates nuclear energy could save €17 billion in decarbonisation costs by 2050.
- The law requires the government to adopt implementing decrees within 12 months.
- A June poll showed 51% of Italians supported restarting nuclear power.
The Italian Senate has given final approval to a government plan to restart nuclear power generation, a move that comes almost 40 years after a referendum led to the closure of the country's nuclear reactors. The government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, aims to deploy advanced modular reactors to help decarbonize industry and strengthen energy security, arguing that technological and safety advances have made the 1987 anti-nuclear vote obsolete.
Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin stated that "Sustainable nuclear power, together with renewable energy sources, will make Italy a safe, independent and competitive country." Italy currently relies heavily on energy imports, including electricity from neighboring countries like France. However, anti-nuclear campaigners raise concerns about safety and the long construction times for new plants.
A June poll by Demopolis indicated that 51% of Italians supported restarting nuclear power, though a majority opposed having a plant near their homes. When the plan was unveiled last year, the government estimated that nuclear energy, accounting for at least 11% of Italy's energy mix, could save €17 billion ($19 billion) in decarbonisation costs by 2050, with a potential future share rising to 22% according to the national energy and climate plan.
The new law mandates that the government adopt the necessary implementing decrees within 12 months. It also includes provisions for decommissioning old facilities and establishing an independent regulator. Opposition parties, such as the Five Star Movement, largely opposed the measure, with Senator Elena Sironi urging the government to prioritize locating new plants in already developed or degraded areas without consuming additional land.