Politics Italy's government aims to return to nuclear energy
In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government wants to push ahead with its plans to return to nuclear energy. A legal framework for the return to nuclear power is to be finalized by the end of 2027, Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin told the daily newspaper "Il Sole 24 Ore".
23.01.2025, 16:55
SDA
"Italy is ready to return to nuclear energy. An important decision that will not replace renewable energies, but rather complement them in order to ensure a balanced and sustainable energy mix," said Pichetto Fratin. According to him, a first draft of a framework law will be presented to the cabinet shortly.
Italy had already phased out nuclear energy after the Chernobyl reactor disaster. The last nuclear power plants were taken off the grid following a referendum in 1990. In the meantime, Italy had already considered returning to nuclear power. However, the plans were halted after the Fukushima reactor disaster in 2011.
Since taking office at the end of 2022, however, Meloni's government has announced several times that it wants to return to nuclear power. Her plans include the possible use of so-called small modular reactors and fusion reactors. However, no details have yet been released. The opposition and environmentalists have criticized the plans.
