Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is leading efforts to revive nuclear energy projects, marking a significant shift after the country closed its last nuclear plant 35 years ago.
This initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions, as reported by the British newspaper Financial Times.
Italian Minister of Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, announced plans for legislation that would allow investments in modular nuclear reactors, potentially operational within the next 10 years.
Fratin projects nuclear energy to constitute at least 11% of the country’s total electricity consumption by 2050, aiming to diminish reliance on imported fossil fuels.
“To sustain clean energy operations, allocating a share to nuclear power is essential,” Fratin emphasized.
Italy previously constructed four nuclear power plants in the 1960s and 1970s, with plans to expand, but public sentiment turned against nuclear energy after the Chornobyl disaster in 1986. A national referendum decisively voted to cease support for developing new reactors.
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi attempted to revive the nuclear program with new legislation and contracts for building new reactors in the early 2000s. However, a 2011 referendum overwhelmingly rejected these plans, with over 90% of voters opposing them.
A recent survey conducted by the Italian environmental group “Legambiente” found that 75% of respondents expressed doubts that nuclear energy could solve Italy’s energy challenges. Safety concerns were a primary reason for opposition, voiced by 25% of participants.
Fratin remains confident that technological advancements can overcome historical skepticism. He noted that modern nuclear technologies offer higher safety standards, benefiting families and businesses alike.
Meloni’s government aims to navigate previous referendum setbacks with new legislation facilitating the restart of nuclear power plants. Italy boasts high proficiency in the sector, supported by advanced research institutions and active nuclear supply chains in global markets.
“The issue is one of awareness,” Fratin concluded. “Younger generations are more aware, whereas older generations, having lived through Chernobyl, instinctively say no when they hear about nuclear energy.”
Italy’s move to revive nuclear energy comes alongside new restrictions on solar energy use, as Meloni has warned that widespread solar panel deployment threatens Italy’s food security. Concerns also include the visual impact of solar panels on Italy’s picturesque countryside.
In closing, Fratin highlighted that small-scale nuclear power plants offer greater efficiency, requiring just 4 hectares (40,000 square meters) to generate 300 megawatts.
