Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto said that by 2050, nuclear energy should provide at least 11% of the country’s total electricity consumption.
The Italian government, led by Georgia Maloney, is seeking to restore nuclear power in the country to reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the air. The last nuclear power plant there was shut down more than 30 years ago, the Financial Times reports.
According to the publication, Italian authorities plan to introduce legislation that would allow investment in small modular nuclear reactors. They will be operational for 10 years.
Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto said that by 2050, nuclear energy should provide at least 11% of the country’s total electricity consumption. To ensure a continuous supply of clean energy, the Italian government is seeking to set a quota for nuclear energy.
Pichetto also emphasized that renewable technologies such as solar and wind energy cannot provide the necessary security.
The Financial Times wrote that Italy built four nuclear power plants in the 1960s and 1970s and planned to expand its nuclear capacity. However, after the Chernobyl accident in 1986, a majority of Italians voted in a national referendum to end subsidies for building new reactors. The last nuclear power plant in Italy ceased operation in 1990.
Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi tried to revive nuclear power by passing legislation and drawing up contracts to build new reactors. However, in a 2011 referendum, 90% of Italians opposed such plans.
Today’s polls show that 37% of Italians believe that nuclear power is good for the country, as long as the technology is safer. At the same time, 25% of respondents are definitely against the continuation of the nuclear program due to safety.
We remind you that the UN General Assembly on Thursday, July 11, adopted a resolution initiated by Ukraine on the safety and protection of nuclear facilities, in particular, the Zaporozhye NPP.
Source: korrespondent
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