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Nuclear Energy in Italy

A difficult path

Italy has always had a complicated relationship with nuclear, and for the most part this position stems from public opinion aligned with much hostility as well as the huge costs to complete an investment of such magnitude. 

The reticence of public opinion was mainly dictated by a series of events that had significant media coverage, such as: San Seveso disaster, Chernobyl, Fukushima and Three Mile Island. Each stage has brought significant improvements in the safety of treatments, and a mention should also be given to the accident of " Three Island " in the USA, where you risked disaster due to an inefficiency in the control panel, there were too many indicators and when there was a short circuit the engineers did not know what was going on.


Why is important to implement nuclear energy 

There are several reasons why implement nuclear energy as a primary source of energy:

  1. Nuclear energy is considered a clean energy source primarily because it produces very low greenhouse gas emissions during electricity generation. Throughout its lifecycle, it can be less polluting than wind and solar energy solutions. Due to its high energy density, a small amount of nuclear fuel generates massive amounts of energy, requiring fewer raw materials. Unlike coal or gas plants, nuclear power doesn't emit particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, or nitrogen oxides. Nuclear provides constant, reliable power—unlike solar and wind, which are intermittent. While nuclear waste is radioactive, it is contained and managed, unlike CO₂, which fossil fuels release freely into the atmosphere.

  2. The rapid development of artificial intelligence presents one of the most urgent reasons to switch to nuclear energy. To participate in the AI race, countries need massive amounts of energy to support research and maintain databases. This energy demand cannot be met through fossil fuels or alternative solutions alone. Consider that a single ChatGPT query uses about ten times more electricity than a standard Google search. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that AI-related electricity consumption could reach 1,500 terawatt-hours (TWh) by 2030—equivalent to India's current total electricity usage. In the United States, data centers already account for over 4% of total electricity consumption, with more than half of this energy coming from fossil fuels. This heavy reliance on fossil fuels significantly contributes to carbon emissions, highlighting the need for cleaner energy sources.

  3. Another reason to switch to nuclear is to reduce our reliance to the Oil Sharks such as Russia, US, Canada and the Gulf countries, thus making our internal market stronger and more resistant to price volatility caused by arbitrary tariffs and geopolitical events

  4. Nuclear energy offers a compelling solution for future power needs due to its scalability and long-term efficiency. With the rise of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), investments in nuclear technology have become more flexible and scalable, allowing for gradual expansion based on demand. This shift also creates more job opportunities across construction, operation, and maintenance. Additionally, modern waste management systems make nuclear energy more sustainable, as they are designed for long-term containment and recycling, reducing the environmental impact compared to other energy sources.




How are the others reacting: France Case

France has taken a leading role in managing nuclear waste efficiently through a comprehensive recycling and storage strategy. At the heart of this approach is the radioactive waste recycling centre in Brittany, where the French nuclear programme operates a closed fuel cycle. Unlike many other countries, France reprocessing used nuclear fuel to recover valuable materials like uranium and plutonium, which are reused in MOX (Mixed Oxide) fuels produced by Orano at the Melox plant. This process makes nuclear waste theoretically 96% recyclable, significantly reducing its volume — for example, 56 kg of spent fuel can be reduced to just 56 grams of high-level waste. Moreover, 90% of France's radioactive waste is low or very low level and is safely stored in surface facilities, with the remaining 10% of long-lived waste securely stored until a permanent solution is implemented, in line with the 1991 and 2006 French laws.



Orano - the company behind

Orano, is a state-owned French nuclear company formed from Areva's 2017 restructuring, is central to the global nuclear fuel cycle. Orano manages five key areas of nuclear energy:

  • Uranium mining in Canada, Kazakhstan, and Niger

  • Uranium conversion and enrichment

  • Nuclear fuel assembly manufacturing

  • Nuclear fuel recycling at La Hague facility

  • Nuclear materials storage and logistics

Orano operates across multiple continents, supporting France's energy independence while delivering nuclear solutions worldwide. Its key facilities include the La Hague recycling plant, Tricastin enrichment site, and Cigar Lake uranium mine partnership. The company focuses on sustainable nuclear operations by reducing waste, advancing recycling technologies, and producing carbon-free energy.


Nuclear Plants 

When we think about nuclear power plants, the first image that typically comes to mind is an enormous, sprawling complex of reactors and cooling towers, similar to those that were infamously operating at Chernobyl. While the average conventional nuclear facility indeed follows this imposing architectural pattern, an innovative and transformative solution has emerged in the nuclear energy landscape over the last decade. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), representing a significant departure from traditional nuclear plant design, have evolved into commercially viable investment opportunities, primarily due to their substantially reduced spatial footprint, streamlined maintenance requirements, and significantly lower operating expenses compared to conventional facilities. Although traditional larger-scale nuclear plants may demonstrate superior economic advantages in the long-term perspective, SMRs present an exceptionally attractive investment proposition owing to their inherent scalability and flexible deployment options, with industry experts anticipating additional government incentives and policy support to further attract potential investors. Moreover, the reliable and continuous power generation capabilities of nuclear facilities position them as ideal energy sources for powering the increasingly demanding computational infrastructure required by artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. This strategic advantage could potentially catalyze Italy and Europe's advancement in the global AI competition, a factor that has become increasingly critical in determining both financial market competitiveness and geopolitical influence in the modern world.


How the Nuclear Sector is regulated across the european Member States: The EURATOM Treaty

All EU Member States remain free to choose their energy mix—including whether to adopt nuclear power—yet the 1957 Euratom Treaty establishes a harmonized system covering nuclear safety, security, and non‑proliferation across the Union. Under Article 2, Euratom must promote research, establish uniform safety standards, and ensure a balanced supply of nuclear materials, forming the legal basis for numerous directives and regulations 


Regulations under the Euratom Framework

  • Nuclear Safety Directive: Directive 2009/71/Euratom, as amended by Directive 2014/87/Euratom, requires Member States to make nuclear safety a priority throughout an installation’s lifecycle. It strengthens the role and independence of national regulatory authorities (Article 8), mandates periodic safety reviews, and ensures public transparency and involvement in nuclear decision making.

  • Safeguards Regulation: Commission Regulation (Euratom) No 302/2005 sets out reporting and inspection requirements to verify that nuclear materials are not diverted from peaceful uses. Operators must declare monthly flows and annual inventories, enabling the Commission to perform inspections and audits to uphold non‑proliferation commitments.

  • Waste Management Directive: Directive 2011/70/Euratom establishes a Community framework for the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste. It emphasizes that Member States retain ultimate responsibility for waste generated on their territory and must develop national programmes and reporting mechanisms.


Nuclear Power Plants in Use under Euratom

As of early 2025, the EU operates 100 commercial reactors totaling 98 GWe across 12 of its 27 Member States, collectively supplying about one‑quarter of the Union’s electricity. The largest fleets are in France (56 reactors), Spain (7), Sweden (6), Czechia (6), Belgium (5), Finland (5), Slovakia (5), Hungary (4), Bulgaria (2), Romania (2), and one each in Slovenia and the Netherlands.


GWe - Stands for gigawatt electrical (sometimes written as “gigawatt‑electric”), a unit of electric power equal to one billion watts. The suffix “e” differentiates it from thermal power units (e.g. GWₜₕ), indicating that the figure refers specifically to electric output capacity rather than heat output


Where is Italy?

Following the 1987 referendum, Italy’s four nuclear plants closed by 1990. Since then, decommissioning and waste management have been funded by an annual levy on electricity sales, set by the Italian Regulatory Authority for Electricity and Gas (AEEG) and managed by Sogin’s national fund . Rather than individual operator contributions, this scheme has been in place for over 35 years, ensuring that taxpayers underwrite dismantlement costs.

Moreover, Italy held two important fundamental referendums on nuclear energy:

  • 1987 Referendum (8–9 Nov 1987): In the wake of Chernobyl, Italians voted on three abrogative questions that effectively ended the national nuclear programme. All measures passed with approximately 80 percent “Yes”on a 65 percent turnout, leading to plant closures by 1990 

  • 2011 Referendum (11–12 June 2011): After Fukushima, voters rejected plans for new reactors, with 94 percent “Yes” on a 55 percent turnout, solidifying Italy’s non‑nuclear stance.

With its Euratom Treaty and implementing directives and regulations, the EU maintains a robust legal framework for nuclear safety, safeguards, and waste management. Italy’s experience—shutting down its plants, funding decommissioning via an electricity levy, and twice voting to reject nuclear power—illustrates the interplay between public opinion, direct democracy, and long‑term fiscal responsibilities in European nuclear policy.



Who is fighting for this battle 

L’avvocato dell’atomo, the centrist Azione party, the Luigi Einaudi Foundation, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are all advocating for nuclear energy in Italy. L'avvocato dell'atomo (The Atom's Lawyer) is a popular Italian science communicator who focuses on debunking myths about nuclear energy and promoting scientific literacy through social media platforms and public speaking engagements. Azione, led by Carlo Calenda, has made nuclear energy a key part of their energy policy platform, arguing that it's essential for Italy's energy independence and decarbonization goals. The party frequently advocates for new-generation nuclear reactors and the revision of Italy's current anti-nuclear stance. The Luigi Einaudi Foundation, a prominent Italian think tank named after the former Italian President and economist, has published several studies and position papers supporting nuclear energy as a viable solution for Italy's energy needs, emphasizing its economic and environmental benefits. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government has shown increasing interest in nuclear energy, marking a significant shift from Italy's historical position. During her administration, she has expressed support for nuclear research and development, particularly focusing on new-generation reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs). This renewed interest in nuclear energy comes decades after Italy's 1987 referendum that led to the shutdown of all nuclear power plants in the country, and the subsequent 2011 referendum that confirmed the anti-nuclear position.



Further Considerations 


It is clear that Italy is gradually getting closer to re-implement Nuclear energy, but how will the market move? Is it going to be more private or public oriented ?

To this question there is not a clear answer, however we auspicate that Italy adopts a partial privatization model, very similar to the Chinese model, thus every company that operates in the sector has to sell to the central government a portion of equity, in the range of 8-10%, in order to ensure efficiency and coherence to the country’s position in such matters.    


More Facts 

China's largest private owners have significant equity ties to the state. These "private owners" – both individuals and business entities – typically control multiple firms. For instance, East Hope Aluminum holds at least a 10% equity share in 236 companies. Research from 2019 shows that 78% of China's top 1,000 private owners maintain equity connections with either central or local government branches or state-owned enterprises (state owners). Among these owners, 65% have "direct connections" to state owners through joint ventures where both parties hold at least a 10% equity stake. The remaining 13% maintain "indirect connections" through joint ventures with other private owners who themselves have equity ties to state owners.


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The contents of the articles represent solely the ideas and opinions of the authors, and in no way reflect the views of Bocconi University.

 
 
 

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