Next-generation nuclear power, what the bill arriving in the House envisages

The bill on the new generation nuclear power, presented by Noi Moderati, will be considered by the Chamber of Deputies in May. This was decided by the Conference of Group Leaders in Montecitorio. "The development of new technologies aimed at the production of nuclear energy," the document reads, "represents an opportunity to combat climate change and an opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills that Italy can boast not only in the field of research, but also in the design and industrial production of new-generation nuclear power plants. For this reason, the purpose of the bill is to promote a national strategy aimed at achieving the objectives already outlined in the Italian National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) referred to in Article 14 of Regulation 2018/1999/EU, with a view to the inclusion of new-generation nuclear power as an alternative and clean source of energy production. To this end, the bill defines the commitment of our country to promote lines of action for the development at national, European and international level, of new nuclear technologies for the production of energy for civil purposes".

More in detail, it is envisaged that 'in accordance with European and national energy and climate objectives, in order to accelerate Italy's decarbonisation process', within 12 months of the law coming into force, the Council of Ministers, on the proposal of the Minister of the Environment having consulted the State-Regions and Autonomous Provinces Conference 'and obtained the opinion of the competent parliamentary commissions', shall adopt a 'strategy aimed at developing the objectives already outlined in the Italian National Energy and Climate Plan' for 'the inclusion of new-generation nuclear power as an alternative and clean source of energy production'.

The aim of the strategy is to promote research into new-generation nuclear technologies; to encourage Italy's participation in international and European programmes for the innovation of nuclear energy, through an increase in research and development investment in the sector; and to build new-generation nuclear power plants in Italy. This strategy, the measure states, 'must present a preparatory impact assessment in terms of technological development and territorial safety, also for the purposes of a regulatory reorganisation of the regulation of irradiated fuel storage systems and of radioactive waste '.