Italy's Senate has given final approval to legislation that paves the way for a return to nuclear power, nearly four decades after the Chernobyl disaster prompted the country to abandon atomic energy. The measure cleared the upper house 81-51 with seven abstentions. This marks a major step in Premier Giorgia Meloni's drive to bolster energy security and meet climate goals. The bill establishes a legal framework for next-generation nuclear technologies.
The legislation authorises the government to draft implementing decrees over the next 12 months covering reactor licensing, safety standards, waste management, and criteria for future sites. This development puts Italy on a path towards reintroducing nuclear power after voters twice rejected it in national referendums. Italy seeks energy security in resuming nuclear power, with Meloni's government arguing that rising electricity demand, climate targets, and energy security concerns exposed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine justify bringing nuclear energy back into the country's power mix.
Rather than reviving the large reactors of the past, the government is focusing on small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced technologies that supporters say could be safer, more flexible, and quicker to build. The legislation does not authorise the construction of any reactors but creates the regulatory foundation needed before future projects can be proposed, assessed, and approved. Italy was once among Europe's nuclear pioneers, operating four reactors before a 1987 referendum effectively ended the programme.
Since then, the country has relied heavily on imported energy and has become one of Europe's largest consumers of electricity generated by nuclear plants in neighbouring countries. The government says electricity demand could rise substantially in coming years as homes, businesses, and transportation become increasingly electrified and as data centres and other energy-intensive technologies expand. This situation has led Italy to reconsider its stance on nuclear energy.
Italy's move comes amid a broader European debate over nuclear power's role in cutting carbon emissions and reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. Countries including France and Poland are investing in new nuclear projects or planning major expansions. Public attitudes in Italy appear to have shifted, with a June 2026 survey by research firm Only Numbers finding that about 55% of Italians support next-generation nuclear plants.
However, obstacles remain before any reactors could be built. Italy still lacks a permanent national repository for radioactive waste from its previous nuclear programme, with waste continuing to be stored at temporary facilities around the country. Future reactor projects and waste storage sites are also expected to face opposition from local communities. Energy analysts have questioned the economics of nuclear power, pointing to high construction costs and the lack of commercially proven SMR projects operating at scale in Europe.
Industry estimates place the cost of a single 300-megawatt SMR at between €3bn and €6bn, excluding additional infrastructure and grid expenses. Michele Governatori, a senior energy adviser at climate and energy think tank ECCO, welcomed the creation of a regulatory framework but said it would likely expose limited private-sector appetite for new nuclear projects. Environmental groups and opposition parties have already signalled resistance to the government's plans and could challenge future projects once specific reactor and waste-storage sites are proposed.
Key points
- Italy's Senate approves legislation for a return to nuclear power.
- The legislation establishes a legal framework for next-generation nuclear technologies.
- Public attitudes in Italy appear to have shifted in favour of next-generation nuclear plants.
