Italy finally approved a law to return to nuclear energy

The Italian Senate has finally approved a framework law that creates a legal basis for the country's return to nuclear energy nearly 40 years after abandoning it. The document had already been supported by the Chamber of Deputies, so the parliamentary stage of its adoption is complete.

The law does not mean the immediate start of construction of nuclear power plants. It delegates to the government the authority to develop detailed rules for permits, construction and operation of nuclear power plants, management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, nuclear safety and the work of regulatory bodies.

According to the text of the law, the government must, within six months of its entry into force, adopt one or more legislative decrees that will define the procedures for implementing new nuclear projects. Minister of Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin stated that the government expects to prepare the main executive regulations by the end of the year.

The Italian government is betting primarily not on large traditional nuclear power plants, but on new generation nuclear reactors, in particular small modular reactors - SMR. They are planned to be used as part of the energy balance alongside renewable sources.

According to Pichetto Fratin's assessment, the first new nuclear capacities in Italy under a favorable scenario could begin producing electricity around 2033-2034. At the same time, a significant part of small modular reactor technologies is still at the stage of development and preparation for commercial use.

Italy abandoned nuclear generation after the 1987 referendum, held after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. The current government explains the return to nuclear energy by the need to reduce dependence on imported energy sources, curb the impact of energy price fluctuations and ensure growth in electricity demand.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that the next stage will be the preparation of rules on safety, permits, waste management and interaction with territories where new facilities could potentially be located. Opposition parties and several environmental organizations oppose the course toward nuclear energy, pointing out, in particular, the cost and timelines of implementing such projects.

Based on materials from: ANSA, Italian Senate