ROME — The legislation does not authorize the construction of any reactors. The measure cleared the upper house with a vote of 81 in favor, 51 against, and seven abstentions. The bill previously passed the lower Chamber of Deputies, completing the parliamentary process for the initiative.

Giorgia Meloni is the Premier of Italy. Her government argues 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. Meloni has a history of advocating for energy sovereignty and reducing reliance on foreign energy sources, particularly after the Russia-Ukraine war exacerbated energy insecurity in Europe.

The government is focusing on small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced technologies rather than reviving large reactors. Supporters say SMRs and other advanced technologies could be safer, more flexible, and quicker to build. The government says electricity demand could rise substantially in coming years as homes, businesses, and transportation become increasingly electrified and as data centers and other energy-intensive technologies expand.

Gilberto Pichetto Fratin is the minister for the environment and energy security. "Nuclear isn’t a return to the past. When integrated with renewables, it’s a winning technology, which can give extraordinary results for our energy security," Pichetto Fratin said.

Italy abandoned atomic energy nearly four decades after the Chernobyl disaster. Italian voters rejected nuclear power in national referendums in 1987 and 2011. The 1987 referendum followed the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

The 2011 referendum followed Japan’s Fukushima accident. Italy operated four nuclear reactors before a 1987 referendum effectively ended the program.

Since ending its nuclear program, Italy has relied heavily on imported energy. Italy has become one of Europe’s largest consumers of electricity generated by nuclear plants in neighboring countries. In 2025, the Italian Council of Ministers approved a draft bill to advance a national sustainable nuclear program, focusing on SMRs and fusion technologies, as part of broader EU decarbonization goals.

Michele Governatori is a senior energy adviser at climate and energy think tank ECCO. He expressed skepticism about the viability of SMRs, stating that they are not yet competitive and may not attract private investment. "Having a regulatory framework in place is positive, but it will also make clear the limited interest of private investors in technologies that are either not competitive today or not yet ready, such as SMRs," Governatori said. Governatori said Italy should focus on measures already available to cut energy costs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, including electrification, energy efficiency, renewable energy, storage capacity, and power-grid upgrades.

Italy lacks a permanent national repository for radioactive waste from its previous nuclear program. Radioactive waste from Italy's previous nuclear program continues to be stored at temporary facilities around the country. The legislation passed by Italy’s Senate includes provisions for a national repository for radioactive waste, though no site has been selected yet, reflecting ongoing challenges in managing nuclear waste. Italy’s previous nuclear program, which operated four reactors until 1987, left behind 75,000 m³ of very low and low-level waste, 15,000 m³ of intermediate-level waste, and 1,000 m³ of high-level waste, all currently stored in temporary facilities.

Why It Matters

The Senate’s approval marks a shift in Italy’s energy policy, moving toward a legal structure that could eventually allow new nuclear generation after decades of prohibition. The legislation creates a pathway for advanced technologies while leaving specific site selection and reactor construction decisions to future decrees and political processes. This approach attempts to balance energy security needs with the unresolved issue of waste management, as the country still lacks a permanent repository for existing radioactive materials.

The debate shows differing views on the role of nuclear power in meeting climate targets and ensuring energy independence. Proponents argue that next-generation reactors offer a clean and secure alternative to fossil fuels, while critics question their economic viability and urge greater investment in renewables and efficiency. The outcome of the upcoming regulatory drafting process will determine how these competing priorities shape Italy’s future energy landscape.

Timeline

On September 18, 1990, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a decision reaffirming and revising, in part, the five Waste Confidence findings reached in its 1984 Waste Confidence Decision. A June 2026 survey by research firm Only Numbers found that about 55% of Italians support next-generation nuclear plants. Support for next-generation nuclear plants is strongest among younger generations who have no direct memory of Chernobyl.

On September 23, 2026, Italy’s Senate gave final approval to legislation paving the way for a return to nuclear power. The legislation establishes a legal framework for next-generation nuclear technologies. The legislation authorizes the government to draft implementing decrees over the next 12 months covering reactor licensing, safety standards, waste management, and criteria for future sites.

Gilberto Pichetto Fratin stated that nuclear energy is a winning technology for energy security when integrated with renewables.

What's New

Giorgia Meloni is Prime Minister of Italy since 2022. She has a history of advocating for energy sovereignty and reducing reliance on foreign energy sources, particularly after the Russia-Ukraine war exacerbated energy insecurity in Europe. He stated that nuclear energy is not a return to the past but a winning technology for energy security when integrated with renewables.

Michele Governatori, a senior energy adviser at climate and energy think tank ECCO, has expressed skepticism about the viability of SMRs, stating that they are not yet competitive and may not attract private investment.