The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has announced plans to reintroduce Italian nuclear power after 35 years of shutting down its last atomic power plant. This measure seeks to mitigate carbon emissions and increase the country’s energy independence, as reported in News Az.
Italian nuclear energy
The Minister of Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, informed the media that legislative proposals are being prepared to facilitate investments in small modular nuclear reactors. These could be operational within a decade, thus contributing to nuclear power accounting for at least 11% of Italy’s electricity consumption by 2050.
In addition, Pichetto Fratin expressed the need to include a nuclear energy quota to ensure a continuous source of clean energy, highlighting the limitations of renewable technologies such as solar and wind power. solar and wind as far as energy security is concerned.
Historically, Italy had four nuclear power plants built in the 1960s and 1970s, with expansion plans that were halted after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. Public reaction led to a national referendum that resulted in the elimination of subsidies for new reactors and the definitive closure of existing plants in 1990. Subsequent attempts to revive the nuclear program, including by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in 2011, failed due to popular opposition in a new referendum.
Despite historical resistance, a recent survey reveals a potential shift in public perception towards nuclear power, with 37% of respondents believing it could benefit Italy if the technology were safer. Pichetto Fratin was optimistic about overcoming the historical aversion thanks to the safety advances offered by the new nuclear technology.
Meanwhile, Meloni has criticized Italy’s reliance on solar panels, mainly imported from China, arguing that this could pose both a political and commercial risk. Minister Pichetto Fratin has also expressed concerns about the visual impact of the panels on the Italian landscape, promoting a more cautious approach to their proliferation.
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Source: News.Az
Photo: Shutterstock
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