Nearly forty years after the Chernobyl disaster transformed public opinion on nuclear power, Italy is once again considering a return to atomic energy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government is preparing a new legal framework that would allow advanced nuclear technologies to become part of the country’s future energy strategy.
The renewed debate highlights a clear generational divide. Many older Italians continue to associate nuclear power with the Chernobyl catastrophe and concerns about radiation, reactor safety and long-term environmental risks. Younger generations, however, increasingly see nuclear energy as a reliable low-carbon source of electricity that could help combat climate change and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Italy was once among Europe’s leading nuclear nations, operating four reactors before the 1987 referendum held in the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident. Italian voters overwhelmingly chose to abandon nuclear power, and the country’s remaining reactors were shut down in the following years.
A second attempt to revive the sector was rejected in 2011 after the Fukushima disaster, when another national referendum produced strong opposition to building new nuclear plants.
Today’s energy landscape is very different. Rising electricity demand, ambitious climate targets and concerns over energy security have pushed nuclear power back into the political spotlight. The Italian government argues that renewable energy alone may not be sufficient to guarantee a stable and reliable electricity supply.
Instead of constructing large conventional reactors, policymakers are focusing on small modular reactors and other next-generation nuclear technologies. Supporters believe these systems could offer higher safety standards, greater flexibility and shorter construction times. Current government plans suggest that the first advanced reactors could begin operating between 2033 and 2035.
Parliament is expected to establish the legal framework covering reactor licensing, safety regulations, radioactive waste management and site selection. Once the legislation is approved, the government will have approximately one year to prepare detailed implementation rules.
Recent opinion polls indicate that around 55 percent of Italians support the use of next-generation nuclear technologies. Support is particularly strong among younger people, who increasingly associate nuclear energy with technological innovation, energy independence and lower carbon emissions.
Critics argue that nuclear projects remain expensive and require many years to complete. They also question the commercial viability of small modular reactors, noting that the technology has not yet been widely proven on a large commercial scale.
One of the biggest challenges remains the selection of locations for future reactors and a permanent national repository for radioactive waste. Italy still lacks a central storage facility for waste produced by its previous nuclear programme. Surveys also show that public support declines sharply when people are asked whether they would accept a nuclear facility near their own communities.
As a result, nationwide approval for nuclear energy may face strong local opposition once specific sites are proposed. Political parties and environmental organisations could also push for another national referendum.
Italy’s nuclear debate is no longer driven solely by the memories of Chernobyl and Fukushima. It has increasingly become a discussion about electricity prices, climate policy, energy security and the country’s technological future. Whether Italy ultimately returns to nuclear power will depend not only on government decisions, but also on whether a new generation can reshape public opinion formed by the disasters of the past.
