Italy Nuclear power, delegation law approval

The Italian Council of Ministers has formally endorsed a legislative framework that establishes the government’s mandate to pursue the development of sustainable nuclear power. The purpose of this undertaking is to formulate a regulatory structure for energy generation, which will be achieved through the incorporation of novel modules, the cessation of operations at current power facilities, the administration of waste materials and used fuel, the promotion of investigation and progress in fusion energy, and the realignment of proficiencies and roles within the energy industry. The new regulation will be essential to reach the target of decarbonization and energy security, as set out in the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan, the Italian Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto has stated. The latter asserts that ‘the new nuclear will have to ensure sufficient energy at affordable prices, with a containment of energy costs and the strengthening of the competitiveness of the system.’
The delegation stipulates that the Executive is to adopt a series of legislative decrees within 12 months of the delegation’s entry into force, to organically regulate the entire life cycle of the new sustainable energy. Furthermore, the delegation provides for the establishment of an autonomous Authority for safety, supervision, and control, which will deal with the dismantling of existing plants, the management of waste and spent fuel, research, development, and the use of fusion energy. It is estimated that the new reactors will be operational by 2030.