Italy clears legal path for nuclear revival, but reactors remain decades away
The Italian Senate has approved a sweeping law that ends a 39-year ban on nuclear power, granting the government broad authority to draft detailed regulations aimed at reintroducing atomic energy. The move, passed on September 23, 2026, does not authorize any construction — it merely opens the door for future projects, with the first reactors not expected until the early 2030s.
The law empowers the government to issue implementing decrees by December 31, 2026, covering reactor design, waste handling, safety oversight, and hydrogen production using nuclear energy. Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, who spearheaded the bill, confirmed teams are already drafting these rules and that the government aims to begin licensing procedures for new facilities shortly after.
The government's strategy focuses exclusively on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) — factory-built units smaller than traditional plants, designed for transport and modular installation. These are promoted as safer and more affordable than legacy reactors, with lead-cooled designs that automatically shut down in emergencies. Yet as of September 2026, no SMR has received a construction license anywhere in the European Union, and no commercial unit is operational anywhere in the world.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed the vote as a “courageous and common-sense choice,” arguing that Italy imports electricity generated by nuclear plants in France and Switzerland but lacks the legal capacity to produce its own. She stated the law fulfills a pledge to Italians, emphasizing energy independence and stability amid rising global volatility.
The first Italian SMR could begin operating around 2033–2034, according to government estimates, with full-scale deployment stretching into the 2040s. Independent experts warn this timeline is optimistic. The Italian National Agency for New Technologies (ENEA) is collaborating with firms like Newcleo and Ansaldo Nucleare on pilot projects, including the EAGLES-300 prototype. Newcleo plans to test a commercial-scale advanced reactor in France by late 2031 — a prerequisite for any Italian deployment.
Cost estimates for a single 100 MW SMR in Italy hover around €610 million, with a Levelized Cost of Energy projected at €107 per MWh. While proponents argue modular construction lowers long-term expenses, past nuclear projects across Europe have routinely exceeded budgets by 100–600%. Total investment for Italy's nuclear reboot could exceed €10 billion.
Critics call it a distraction from real solutions
Opposition parties and environmental groups rejected the law as a political maneuver. The Green-Left Alliance (AVS) accused the government of deploying “nuclear theater” to mask its failure to advance renewables and lower electricity prices, which remain among Europe’s highest.
“Your reactors need uranium you don’t have. Your gas hub has no gas. This isn’t energy policy — it’s a spectacle,” said Senate whip Peppe De Cristofaro. The Five Star Movement called the law “an electoral product,” citing the absence of viable SMR technology.
Environmental NGOs Greenpeace Italy, Legambiente, WWF Italy, and the Kyoto Club issued a joint statement slamming the law as “a box of false promises.” They argue SMRs still produce long-lived radioactive waste, require decades to deploy, and divert funding from faster, proven alternatives: solar, wind, grid modernization, and storage.
“Waiting 15 years for unproven reactors while our power bills rise is not strategy — it’s negligence,” said WWF Italy. Legambiente highlighted Italy’s underutilized geothermal potential and existing grid capacity that could be expanded immediately.
One coalition break: Calenda’s Azione votes yes
Only one opposition party supported the bill: Azione, led by Carlo Calenda, a longstanding advocate for nuclear energy as part of a low-carbon transition. Its vote underscores a deepening ideological split within Italy’s center-left.
Forza Italia’s Stefania Craxi praised the law as “essential for industrial growth and price stability,” while Minister of Enterprises Adolfo Urso called it a foundational step toward strategic autonomy. Yet even within the ruling coalition, no official has identified where uranium will be sourced, where waste will be stored, or how billions in costs will be funded.
As Italy begins drafting regulations, the real test lies not in passage, but in execution. Without clear answers to safety, waste, and financing — and without international validation of SMR technology — the nation may find itself legislating a future it cannot yet deliver.
