Italy’s Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Frattin announced that the government is considering “interventions” in electricity bills related to nuclear power. The country had abandoned nuclear power after the Chernobyl disaster, but the new government, led by Premier Giorgia Meloni, plans to return to nuclear energy through small, private reactors operated by the private sector with government support.
According to Pichetto Frattin, Italy integrates all energy production into its tariff, including thermal, wind, photovoltaic, hydroelectric, and geothermal sources. The minister stated that once a tool is developed to evaluate the cost of nuclear energy production, the government will assess how much to integrate into the tariff, similar to how it is done with photovoltaic and wind power.
The goal is to create the greatest possible advantage for the country. The minister also hinted that if gas prices do not fall from their current high levels, the government will need to take action.
This move marks a significant shift in Italy’s energy policy, which has long relied on imports. The decision to reintroduce nuclear power aims to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources and promote energy security.