Italy approves plan to return to nuclear energy — OilPrice
Italy’s Senate has given final approval to a government plan that paves the way for resuming nuclear electricity generation nearly 40 years after the last reactor was shut down. OilPrice reports, citing Reuters.
Preparing new rules
Following the adoption of the law, the government must prepare an implementing decree within 12 months. It will regulate reactor licensing, safety standards, radioactive waste management, and criteria for selecting sites for future facilities.
The authorities plan to focus on small modular reactors and other advanced nuclear technologies. Supporters of this approach believe it will help decarbonize industry, strengthen energy security, and reduce the country’s dependence on energy imports.
Abandoning nuclear energy
Italy previously operated four nuclear reactors. Following a 1987 referendum, held the year after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, the country decided to gradually phase out nuclear energy. The last reactor was shut down in 1990.
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In a 2011 referendum, held after the accident at Japan’s Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant, more than 90% of participants opposed nuclear power plants. The current government believes that technological development and modern safety standards have changed the conditions under which the previous decision was made.
Energy dependence and public opinion
According to the publication, Italy meets more than 90% of its total energy needs through imports, including by purchasing electricity generated at French nuclear power plants. Natural gas and oil account for about 80% of the country’s total energy supply, while renewables make up the rest.
At the same time, society does not have a unified position on the return of nuclear generation. A survey conducted in June showed that 51% of respondents support its restoration, but the majority oppose the construction of nuclear power plants near their homes. A separate problem remains the country’s lack of a permanent national repository for radioactive waste from its previous nuclear program.
