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The bill empowers the government to comprehensively regulate the introduction of 'sustainable' nuclear power, within the framework of European decarbonisation policies by 2050 and energy security objectives. The mandate includes, among other things, the development of a National Programme for Sustainable Nuclear Power, the establishment of an independent Nuclear Safety Authority, the strengthening of scientific and industrial research, the development of new skills, and the implementation of information and awareness campaigns.
The implementing legislative decrees must be adopted within 12 months of the law's entry into force.
"The bill aims to comprehensively address the production of energy from sustainable nuclear and fusion sources, incorporating it into the Italian energy mix to achieve energy independence and decarbonisation goals," the Council of Ministers said. "The measure transcends previous nuclear experiences and focuses on the use of the best available technologies, including modular and advanced ones. The bill takes into account the opinion expressed by the Joint Conference."
Italy operated a total of four nuclear power plants starting in the early 1960s but decided to phase out nuclear power in a referendum that followed the 1986 Chernobyl accident. It closed its last two operating plants, Caorso and Trino Vercellese, in 1990.
In late March 2011, following the Fukushima Daiichi accident, the Italian government approved a moratorium of at least one year on construction of nuclear power plants in the country, which had been looking to restart its long-abandoned nuclear programme. In a poll held in June of that year, 94% of voters rejected the construction of any new nuclear reactors in Italy. However, a poll conducted in June 2021 showed that one-third of Italians were in favour of reconsidering the use of nuclear energy in the country, with more than half of respondents saying they would not exclude the future use of new advanced nuclear technologies.
In May 2023, the Italian Parliament approved a motion to urge the government to consider incorporating nuclear power into the country's energy mix. In the September of that year, the first meeting was held of the National Platform for Sustainable Nuclear Power, set up by the government to define a time frame for the possible resumption of nuclear energy in Italy and identify opportunities for the country's industrial chain already operating in the sector.
Welcoming the approval of the draft law, Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto said: "With this measure, Italy equips itself with a fundamental tool to look to the future with realism and ambition. We want to be leaders in new technologies, from SMR and AMR to fusion, within the framework of technological neutrality and the European energy transition. Sustainable nuclear power is a choice based on innovation, safety, and responsibility toward citizens, businesses, and the environment."
