Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wants to lift a forty-year ban on nuclear energy, hoping that concerns over energy security and the rapid rise in electricity prices will bring her success in an area where previous governments have failed.
“Elchi” reports that this was stated by the “Politico” publication.
However, convincing one of the most skeptical populations in Europe regarding nuclear technology that it is safe will not be easy, and a failed campaign could turn against Meloni and her right-wing coalition.
Last week, during a speech in the Italian Senate, Meloni announced that the government would approve the legal framework for a return to nuclear energy by the summer, explaining it by the need to protect the economy from instability in fossil fuel markets and geopolitical shocks:
“By the summer, a law authorizing construction and the implementing acts defining the legal framework necessary for the resumption of nuclear energy production in Italy will be adopted.”
However, experts note that years could pass before the practical implementation of the project. According to the plan, the parliament must first adopt a framework law, after which executive decrees defining specific projects, sites, and technologies will be prepared within 12 months.
It is noted that previous attempts to return to nuclear energy in Italy ended in failure, including after the 1987 and 2011 referendums held against the backdrop of accidents in Ukraine and Japan. However, recent opinion polls show that public support for nuclear energy has increased and is currently at approximately 50% or slightly higher.
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