The Senate’s final vote cleared the way for the Meloni administration to deploy advanced modular reactors, a technology the government says will help decarbonise industry and bolster energy security amid volatile Middle‑East oil markets.
Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin hailed the decision, saying sustainable nuclear power combined with renewables will make Italy “a safe, independent and competitive country.”
The plan, unveiled last year, estimates that nuclear energy could account for at least 11% of Italy’s mix, saving roughly €17 billion in decarbonisation costs by 2050, with a long‑term target of 22% under the national energy and climate plan.
Italy currently imports a large share of its electricity, much of it generated by nuclear plants in neighboring France, prompting the government to argue that domestic reactors will reduce reliance on foreign energy supplies.
Opposition parties and anti‑nuclear campaigners warned that safety concerns and the long construction timeline outweigh any benefits, and a June Demopolis poll showed that while 51% of Italians support restarting nuclear generation, a majority oppose siting new plants near residential areas.
The legislation gives the government 12 months to issue implementing decrees, outlines procedures for decommissioning old facilities and mandates the creation of an independent regulator. Centre‑left parties urged that any new sites be limited to already developed or degraded industrial zones to avoid consuming additional land.
If the government follows through, the first modular reactors could begin construction within the next year, signaling a significant shift in Italy’s energy policy after four decades of nuclear abstention.