Italy Moves to Revive Nuclear Energy After 40 Years as Senate Passes Bill

▲ The Italian Parliament

Italy, which suspended nuclear power generation following the Chernobyl disaster, is initiating a return to nuclear energy after about 40 years.

According to agencies such as the Associated Press on yesterday local time, the Italian Senate passed a bill laying the groundwork for the return to nuclear power with 81 votes in favor, 51 against, and 7 abstentions.

The bill includes provisions to establish the necessary regulatory framework to advance future nuclear projects.

Accordingly, the government plans to draw up enforcement decrees over the next 12 months covering reactor licensing, safety standards, waste management, and site selection criteria.

Italy once operated four reactors and was considered a pioneer in nuclear energy in Europe.

However, it phased out nuclear power through a referendum held the year after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident.

In a referendum held immediately after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, more than 90 percent of voters also opposed returning to nuclear energy.

However, growing instability in energy supplies due to recent Middle East crises has amplified calls for nuclear power.

With a high dependence on natural gas imports, Italy is vulnerable to international energy price fluctuations and is classified as one of the countries with the highest electricity rates in Europe.

While the passage of this bill is expected to jump-start Italy's return to nuclear energy, it is projected to take time before actual reactors are built.

Italy currently lacks facilities to dispose of radioactive waste.

Some forecasts also suggest that the selection of sites for future reactors and waste storage facilities may face delays due to opposition from local communities.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)

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