SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

Rome launches legislative process to reintegrate nuclear energy into its mix

The Italian government has approved a bill granting the executive authority to regulate the return of nuclear energy, in line with European carbon neutrality and energy security targets for 2050.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

START NOW — 4.90$/month

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

SUBSCRIBE — 99$/year

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

Sign up for free to unlock this article

The Italian Council of Ministers, chaired by Giorgia Meloni, has adopted a bill assigning the government exclusive responsibility for organising the reintroduction of nuclear energy in the country. The bill provides for the development of a National Programme for Sustainable Nuclear Power and the creation of an independent Nuclear Safety Authority. The legislative framework is based on energy sovereignty, consistent with European decarbonisation policies.

A framework for advanced technologies and safety

The bill authorises the use of advanced fission technologies and small modular reactors (SMRs), in a context of diversifying the energy mix. The government will have 12 months from the law’s entry into force to adopt the implementing decrees. The text also includes the strengthening of scientific research, industrial skills development, and a public information campaign.

According to the Council of Ministers, the initiative “goes beyond previous nuclear experiences” by relying on the best available technologies. It also considers the opinion of the Joint Conference, a coordination body between the central government and the regions.

Return of a sector halted for more than 30 years

Italy phased out its four nuclear power plants following the 1987 referendum, which came after the Chernobyl accident. The last two reactors, located in Caorso and Trino Vercellese, were permanently shut down in 1990. A restart attempt in 2011 was rejected by 94% of voters after the Fukushima disaster.

However, a poll conducted in June 2021 showed that one-third of Italians supported reconsidering the nuclear option. More than half of respondents expressed openness to the future use of advanced nuclear technologies.

Industrial revival and national strategy

In May 2023, the Italian Parliament adopted a motion encouraging the government to consider integrating nuclear into the national energy strategy. This was followed, in September of the same year, by the first meeting of the National Platform for Sustainable Nuclear Power, tasked with identifying industrial opportunities already present in the country.

Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto welcomed the approval of the bill as “a fundamental tool to look to the future”, citing SMR, AMR (advanced modular reactors), and fusion technologies as key development drivers within the framework of technological neutrality.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
Hydrogen Valleys: the Clean Hydrogen Partnership selects 36 European applications
Pemex approves partial debt buyback totalling $9.9bn
Iberdrola adds 708 MW of solar capacity to joint venture with Norges Bank
Technip Energies secures two major contracts for Ecoplanta methanol plant in Spain
EDF power solutions and El Paso Electric launch 150 MW solar facility in New Mexico
Terra Innovatum signs two strategic agreements to accelerate deployment of its modular reactor
Italian company Terra Innovatum is advancing the commercialisation of its SOLO micro-reactor, with two new partnerships and $42.5mn in funding as part of a merger with a listed company.
Orano, Navoiyuran and ITOCHU launch uranium mining at South Djengeldi site
The Nurlikum Mining joint venture enters a new industrial phase with the launch of the South Djengeldi project, targeting annual production of 500 tonnes of uranium over ten years in Uzbekistan.
Russian strike cuts power to Chernobyl site, reigniting nuclear safety concerns
The containment structure over Chernobyl’s destroyed reactor lost power after a Russian strike, as Zaporizhzhia remains cut off from external electricity for over a week.
U.S. uranium purchases reach 55.9 million pounds in 2024
Uranium deliveries to U.S. civilian operators rose 8% in 2024, while the average price climbed to its highest level since 2012, according to the latest available data.
Medvedev announces the rise of public investment in nuclear and AI
The Vice-Chairman of Russia’s Security Council believes more countries will develop nuclear weapons and generative AI technologies as a result of increasing public sector efforts.
Orano wins legal case in uranium dispute over Somaïr site
An international tribunal ruled in favour of French company Orano against the State of Niger, which had blocked the sale of uranium extracted from the Arlit mine since taking control of the site in 2023.
Oklo and Blykalla form transatlantic alliance on modular reactor development
US-based Oklo and Sweden’s Blykalla join forces to coordinate supply chains and regulatory data sharing to accelerate the commercial deployment of their metal-cooled small modular reactors.
EDF to invest €25bn to strengthen nuclear capacity by 2030
EDF plans a massive €25bn ($26.5bn) investment to modernise its nuclear fleet, focusing on reactor lifetime extension and preparing for new nuclear projects in France.
EDF nuclear costs kept under control until 2028 according to CRE
The French Energy Regulatory Commission set the full nuclear cost at €60.3/MWh by 2026, outlining the taxation thresholds applicable under the market reform scheduled for 2026.
Bulgaria begins talks for the deployment of small modular reactors
The Ministry of Energy will initiate talks with developers of small nuclear reactors after signing a cooperation agreement with the United States to conduct preliminary studies on their deployment.
EDF pushes back Flamanville EPR restart to 17 October
The restart of the Flamanville EPR reactor, initially scheduled for 1 October, has been delayed by more than two weeks due to a maintenance operation on the primary circuit.
Natural uranium will be sufficient to fuel nuclear reactors until 2100
The International Atomic Energy Agency says known natural uranium reserves will meet global nuclear power plant demand for the rest of the century, despite price pressures.
Rosatom will finalise field studies for Kazakhstan’s nuclear power plant in 2025
Site selection for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant enters an advanced technical phase, with more than 100 experts mobilised by Rosatom to conduct complex geological and seismic analyses.
ICSID blocks the sale of SOMAÏR uranium by the State of Niger
The ICSID arbitral tribunal ordered Niger to suspend any sale of uranium produced by SOMAÏR, ruling that this material falls under Orano’s contractual rights, amid a dispute with the State that has lasted for several months.
TNC partners with Nucor to strengthen US nuclear supply chain by 2050
US-based TNC has entered into a strategic agreement with Nucor Corporation to expand gigawatt-scale nuclear capacity in line with federal targets of 400 GW by 2050.
Framatome and ENEA join forces to develop lunar nuclear reactors
Framatome and Italian agency ENEA have signed an agreement to design nuclear reactors capable of powering future human settlements on the Moon, amid growing European ambitions in space.
X-energy confirms feasibility of high-temperature modular reactor in Alberta
A technical report backed by the Government of Alberta confirms the potential of the Xe-100 reactor to meet the province’s industrial and electrical energy needs.
IAEA warns of drone activity near Ukrainian nuclear facilities
Drones were detected within 500 metres of the South Ukraine nuclear power plant, while Zaporizhzhia remains without off-site power.
Putin calls for new financing models for global nuclear energy
At World Atomic Week in Moscow, the Russian president advocated for a reform of civil nuclear funding mechanisms, urging stronger involvement from multilateral financial institutions.
North Korea reportedly holds two tonnes of weapons-grade enriched uranium
Seoul estimates Pyongyang holds enough highly enriched uranium to produce up to 50 atomic bombs, reigniting concerns over its growing nuclear arsenal despite international sanctions.