The government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has made a bold move to revive nuclear power in Italy in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and achieve energy independence.

This decision faces major challenges, as nuclear energy arouses strong feelings in Italy between supporters and opponents. In 1986, after the Chornobyl disaster, Italians voted in a general referendum to abandon nuclear energy, and all nuclear power plants in the country were closed by 1990.

In 2011, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi failed to revive the nuclear program after widespread popular rejection in another referendum.

Experts believe that recent opinion polls indicate the continued presence of anti-nuclear energy sentiment among the majority of Italians, with their concern about safety risks and the impact on the environment.

The Italian Minister of Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, emphasizes the advantages of nuclear energy, noting its efficiency and ability to provide clean energy for homes and businesses.

Nuclear technology has evolved over the past decades, Fratin said, ensuring that safety standards have improved significantly.

The Italian government plans to enact new legislation allowing the construction of modern nuclear reactors, with nuclear energy expected to contribute 11% of the country’s total electricity consumption by 2050.