New nuclear plants, Lombardy submits its candidature

In a recent statement, Adolfo Urso, the Italian Minister of Economic Development, indicated the Italian government’s intention to establish a regulatory framework to facilitate the construction of nuclear reactors and the pursuit of nuclear fission by the end of 2024. In particular, the government intends to present an industrial entity capable of constructing nuclear reactors in Italy and potentially exporting them. These reactors will be of the third and fourth generations, built according to industrial models that are small, modular, clean, and safe. The President of Lombardy, Attilio Fontana, has indicated his willingness to identify potential sites for nuclear power facilities within the region. Minister Urso also elucidated the government’s stance on Europe’s autonomy concerning the sourcing of raw materials. He advocated for the implementation of genuine technological neutrality, encompassing the potential utilisation of alternative technologies, such as biofuels and hydrogen. Nevertheless, the matter seems to be a challenging one to address within a medium-term timeframe.