Italian Cabinet Approves Bill On The Reuse Of Nuclear Power

The Italian Council of Ministers said on Friday (28/2) that it had approved a Draft Law that would allow the use of nuclear power in the country again after it was banned in 1987.

Following the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster in 1986, a referendum was held in Italy, where more than 80 percent of citizens chose to leave nuclear power.

In 1990, Italy closed its last nuclear power plant.

"The document is aimed at incorporating nuclear energy and sustainable fusion into the so-called 'Italy energy mix', and organically fits from an economic, social and environmental point of view into the European policy framework to achieve total carbon neutrality and energy supply security by 2050," the statement read.

After the bill was adopted, the Italian government, within two years, must approve "one or more laws that contain regulations for energy production from sustainable nuclear sources in the national region," the statement said.

"Thanks to future generations of nuclear power combined with renewable energy sources, we will be able to achieve the goal of decarbonization while ensuring the overall security of our country's energy," Italian Environment and Energy Safety Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin told reporters.

At the end of January, Pichetto Fratin said that Italy hopes to complete a plan on nuclear energy by the end of 2027.

In 2010, the administration of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi agreed to restart the national nuclear power development program.

In June 2011, more than 94 percent of Italians again opposed such programs. Italy currently does not have a functioning nuclear power plant.