Italy is seeking to return to nuclear power in a bid to bolster its energy security, cut carbon emissions and reduce electricity prices, but the eventual revival of a nuclear program will take years to materialize and likely face potential public opposition and technical constraints. On Feb. 28, the Italian government approved a draft law that, if passed by parliament, would give it a mandate to adopt detailed legislation for the reintroduction of nuclear power, including for the establishment of a national nuclear program, the commissioning of scientific research, the training of a specialized workforce, and the creation of independent safety authority to regulate and supervise nuclear infrastructure. Rather than returning to past large-scale reactors, the draft calls for a focus on fusion and next-generation fission technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs) and fourth-generation reactors. Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said he expects the law to be...
