Italian Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin advances nuclear law; Calabria president calls for fair renewable pricing

Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin told a conference in Naples that meeting rising electricity demand and Italy's decarbonisation targets will require a strong increase in renewables together with a new source of continuous power: sustainable nuclear. He highlighted the parliamentary decree on sustainable nuclear that has passed the Chamber and is now before the Senate, and said he expects the commission to finish its work this week, with the delegated law approved before the summer break and implementation measures by the end of the year. Fratin described next‑generation technologies, noting that Small Modular Reactors are factory‑built and transported to sites, followed by Advanced Modular Reactors and fourth‑generation reactors that will use waste as fuel, with fusion envisioned after 2050.

Calabria President Roberto Occhiuto praised the nuclear decree but argued that the southern regions, which generate a large share of Italy's clean electricity from wind and solar, still pay higher prices because the national electricity market links tariffs to the most expensive plant. He urged the adoption of a zonal pricing system so that regions can retain part of the cost savings from local renewable production, which would also attract energy‑intensive businesses and support storage and hydro‑electric projects. Occhiuto called for policy changes that would allow the South to benefit from its lower‑cost renewable energy.