Italy eyes return to nuclear energy production by 2035

Italy is considering a return to nuclear energy production by 2035, according to Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin. A landmark bill designed to overturn the country’s long-standing anti-nuclear policy is moving toward a Senate vote following its passage in the lower house in June.

Italy abandoned nuclear power following a 1987 referendum triggered by the Chernobyl disaster, closing its final plants in 1990. The current push for a legal framework for new reactors is driven by high electricity costs for businesses, geopolitical instability, and a desire to reduce excessive dependence on foreign energy supplies. Pichetto Fratin characterized nuclear energy as a matter of ‘national security.’

The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s goals to increase industrial competitiveness and support European energy autonomy. Projections indicate a significant rise in electricity demand over the next decade due to the electrification of transport, industrial shifts, and the expansion of data centers for artificial intelligence. The minister also noted that generational shifts have led to more pragmatic views regarding nuclear power as a tool for decarbonization.