By vowing to resume a reactor construction program within five years, Italy’s government has reinforced an emerging trend in favor of nuclear power. Half a century after starting nuclear plant construction, Italy will end its post-Chernobyl moratorium, confirmed economic development minister Claudius Scajola late last month.
Italy’ biggest power company, ENEL S.p.A., Rome, is “technically” ready to start on the government’s five-year target, Chief Executive Officer Fulvio Conti, told journalists. For a new nuclear program to be commercially viable, at least six 1,600-MW plants should be built, according to ENEL officials. The first plant could be done in 54 months, they claim.
Among non-nuclear countries, Italy is the most likely to start plant construction next, believes Stephen Kidd, director of strategy and research at the World Nuclear Association, London. “Italy has the infrastructure to do it (and)...the mature institutions,” he says.
Despite Italy’s moratorium, ENEL’s controlling interests in Slovak and Spanish utilities, “gives them a large amount of expertise of running nuclear plants,” says Kidd. He hopes the Italian government will procure reactors through international bidding. But he says there is a possibility that the government could still favor one of the large vendors.
EU chief says quest for secure energy supplies, reduced carbon emissions are driving nuclear power.
Italy is the only industrialized country without its own nuclear power, and remains the world’s largest electricity importer, according to WNA. Italy relies on French nuclear power for 10% of its electricity.
Following a referendum in 1987, Italy’s four nuclear powerplants, with over 1,400 MW between them, are being decommissioned by the government’s Sogin S.p.A., Rome. According to ENEL engineers, none of the plants can be revived.
Italy began operating its plants in the early 1960s. The first, the gas-cooled Latina, started in 1963. It was followed a year later by a boiling-water and a pressurized-water reactor. The 860-MW Caorso BWR started up around 1980.
Italy’s new energy policy is line with what European Commission President José Manuel Barroso recently called a “renewed and growing interest in nuclear energy.” The quest for secure energy supplies and reduced carbon emissions are helping reverse the hostility to nuclear energy, claims Barroso.
Nuclear power is now firmly on the U.K.’s agenda, with regulatory agencies prelicensing reactor types and the government moving on legislation to simplify planning.
In Belgium, a government commission last year called for rethinking nuclear policy to meet carbon-reduction commitments. Current policy is to build no new plants and shut existing ones after 40 years. Sweden’s political climate also has warmed to nuclear, with political calls this year for new projects, according to WNA. Still operating a moratorium on new projects, Sweden has shut two 600-MW units at its Barseback plant.
Germany’s coalition government remains split over nuclear power and no change is expected on the current phase-out policy until the political balance changes.
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