Italy will soon enter a new nuclear era.
The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has made plans to bring back nuclear power — 35 years after the last nuclear power plant was closed in Italy.
Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto-Fratin, announced in an interview with the Financial Times that the government aims to restore nuclear power to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The government plans to introduce legislation to allow investment in small modular nuclear reactors, which could be operational within 10 years.
By 2050, nuclear power should account for at least 11% of Italy's total electricity consumption, helping the country reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels.
Need for Green Energy
Minister Pichetto-Fratin stressed the importance of nuclear energy in guaranteeing a continuous supply of green energy. According to Pichetto-Fratin, renewable technologies like solar panels and wind turbines "cannot provide the security we need."
In May, it was reported that Great Britain also plans to build a new large nuclear power plant. This is set to be located in Anglesey, in the north of Wales. Negotiations have already started with international energy companies.
Slovakia's government also approved a plan to build another nuclear reactor, as the country heavily relies on nuclear power.
