These upcoming regulations will cover key areas including authorization and licensing procedures for power plants, safety standards, waste management provisions, and criteria for selecting future sites. The government is specifically examining the role of small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced technologies. SMRs are lower-power reactors than conventional nuclear plants, designed to be manufactured in modules and adapted to various industrial and energy needs. The Ministry of Environment and Energy Security estimates that nuclear power could eventually account for at least 11% of Italy’s electricity generation, with the first reactors potentially starting operation between 2033 and 2034.
Italy operated four nuclear reactors until the late 1980s, with the last facility ceasing operations in 1990. The country’s nuclear programme was effectively ended by a referendum held in 1987 in the wake of the 1986 Chernobyl accident. Despite this domestic phase-out, Italy continues to import significant amounts of nuclear-generated electricity from neighboring countries. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has defended the legislative move as a necessary step to guarantee energy security and ensure compliance with international decarbonisation commitments, particularly in light of recent geopolitical tensions and energy market instability.
“Nuclear power is not a return to the past: it is a winning technology, which, when integrated with renewables, can deliver extraordinary results for our energy security, toward neutrality by 2050,” said Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Minister of the Environment and Energy Security.
The minister argued that the international climate has changed profoundly, highlighting the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and meet ambitious decarbonisation goals. He noted that Italy must develop a comprehensive strategy to analyse all technologies capable of contributing to emissions reduction and system safety. The legislation also supports fusion research and the potential establishment of an independent nuclear safety authority.
Commercial interest in the Italian market is already emerging. On the same day as the Senate vote, French firms Nuward and EDF, along with Italian partners Edison, Ansaldo, and Maire, reaffirmed their ambition to deploy a first reactor in Italy by 2035. Nuward has stated it aims to have a fleet of 10 SMRs across five EU member countries, with initial construction beginning in 2030. Additionally, Newcleo, a lead-cooled advanced modular reactor developer, maintains operations in Italy, including a non-nuclear precursor prototype, and has explored partnerships with the domestic cement industry.
However, the path to implementation is not without challenges. Opposition parties and environmental groups have criticized the projected costs, the implementation timeline, and the management of radioactive waste. Public opinion remains divided, with surveys suggesting that roughly half of the Italian population is still opposed to new nuclear deployments, although younger demographics appear increasingly open to the technology. Experts caution that the creation of a regulatory framework does not guarantee private investment, particularly for technologies that may not yet be commercially competitive.
The next phase involves the government’s development of the implementing decrees and the resolution of technical, financial, and territorial agreements regarding reactor locations. The process aims to build a credible and shared path through transparency and dialogue with local communities, ensuring that any future nuclear programme aligns with Italy’s broader economic and social development goals.
