Pichetto, new regulations for nuclear power within the legislature

Within this legislature the government wants to have ready the legal framework for a return to nuclear power. This was made clear by the Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin , speaking on Radio 24. Asked whether the legislative framework on nuclear power could be changed within the legislature, Pichetto replied: 'Yes. I will do my best. This is the mandate of the government and parliament. I am acting with a working group that must deal with the legal framework,' Pichetto explained. 'If you want to buy a small modular reactor, there must be a compatible legal framework,' he said.

According to the minister, the timeframe for having small modular reactors (the 4th generation nuclear power that Italy is aiming for) 'is 2, 3, 4 years, the product is not there yet. There is talk of having the production conditions for these small reactors at the end of this decade. It means that in this legislative period we must have everything in place. On small modular reactors,' Pichetto continued, 'in Italy there is newcleo, which is the most advanced company, because it works on lead (molten lead cooling, which is safer, ed.), while other companies abroad still work on water. And newcleo uses Enea patents, which are patents of the Italian Republic. The experimentation of the small modular reactors box will take place in Brasimone, and on fusion we are preparing in Frascati the inverter for the Iter plant in France'.

Pichetto then spoke about the G7 Environment, Climate and Energy in Turin, which took place from 28 to 30 April at the Reggia di Venaria. 'The ambition,' he said, 'was high, and the results were high compared to the starting conditions. There are countries like Germany and Japan that have very high electricity production with coal. Thanks to them, who have found this point of convergence (on the closure of coal-fired plants by 2035, ed.)'. 'The target on coal applies to the seven most industrialised countries,' the minister continued. 'The seven want to be leaders, and they will bring this topic to the COPs (the UN climate conferences, ed.). Then there is the whole part of proposals on transition, climate and adaptation, which must be brought to the COP. That's why we talk with the Venaria Charter about a bridge between Cop28 and Cop29. When we talk about climate finance,' Pichetto explained, 'it is about the commitment of the G7 countries to find funds to help developing countries. Italy has raised the Africa issue, with the Mattei Plan'. Another important result of the G7 in Turin, according to the minister, is the fact that "the circular economy has been placed at the centre, as a new mine of raw materials".