Nuclear power in Italy
Encyclopedia
Nuclear power in Italy is a controversial topic. Nuclear power
was used until the Italian nuclear power referendum
closed all plants by 1990, a decision which was reversed in 2008 (see also nuclear power debate
). Calling the phase-out a "terrible mistake, the cost of which totalled over €50 billion (approximately $68 billion)", Industry Minister Claudio Scajola proposed building as many as 10 new reactors, with the goal of increasing the nuclear share of Italy's electricity supply from today's 10% to about 25% by 2030. Following the 2011 Japanese nuclear accidents
, the Italian government put a one-year moratorium on plans to revive nuclear power. On 11—12 June 2011, Italian voters passed a referendum to cancel plans for new reactors. Over 94% of the electorate voted in favor of the construction ban, with 55% of the eligible voters participating, making the vote binding.
Some commenters find that the questions were actually too technical for non-experts and were used to obtain popular consent after Chernobyl disaster
in 1986.
In each referendum Sì ("Yes") won. Subsequently, the Italian government decided in 1988 to phase out existing plants. This led to the termination of work on the near-complete Montalto di Castro Nuclear Power Station
, and the early closure of Enrico Fermi Nuclear Power Plant
and Caorso NPP, both of which closed in 1990. Italy's other nuclear power plants had already closed prior to the decision, Latina NPP in December 1987.
by 2007. The new policy, pursued by Silvio Berlusconi's government, of embracing nuclear power was intended to reverse this trend. An earlier agreement to become part owner of the second EPR
, to be built in France, was rejected by the French, Italian utilities are investing heavily in nuclear capacity in central Europe.
in Rome, Italy's nuclear stance was criticized by CEO of Eni
, Paolo Scaroni
. In January 2008, a think tank Energy Lab started a feasibility study for construction of three or four new nuclear power plants in Italy as a part of a new debate on nuclear power in the country. The Italian general election
of April 2008 saw the victory of the People of Freedom, a party which strongly supports nuclear power. Following the election victory, the new Italy's industry minister Claudio Scajola announced that the government scheduled the start of the construction of the first new Italian nuclear-powered plant by 2013. Enel S.p.A.
planned to build new reactors at one of three licensed sites: Garigliano
, Latina
, or Montalto di Castro
. The first two had small reactors operating until 1982 and 1987. At Montalto di Castro two larger reactors were nearly completed when the country's referendum halted the construction in November 1987.
On 24 February 2009, a new agreement between France and Italy was signed, thus allowing Italy to share in France's expertise in the area of nuclear power station design. Under the agreement, a study was to be conducted to determine the feasibility of building 4 new nuclear power stations in Italy. On 9 July 2009 the Italian legislature passed an energy bill covering the establishment of a Nuclear Regulatory Agency and giving the government six months to select sites for new plants. However the nuclear agenda of Silvio Berlusconi's government was slowed down due to the strong opposition of ten Italian regions (Basilicata, Calabria, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Liguria, Marche, Molise, Puglia, Tuscany and Umbria), who challenged the energy bill passed on 9 July 2009 (the part that gives the government the responsibility for the reopening of nuclear facilities in the country) because they deemed it as unconstitutional. On 24 June 2010 the Italian Constitutional Court rejected the appeal, but the Italian Government had to approve a new version of the Legislative Decree 31/2010 on nuclear sites, in order to adapt it to the decision of the Constitutional Court. The members of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency were named by the government only on the 5th November 2010 and the list sent to the Italian Parliament for approval. On the 1st December 2010 a joint meeting of the Italian Parliament commissions for the Environment and for Productive Activities rejected one of the nominations putting a further stop to the Italian Government plans.
On 3 August 2009, Enel and Électricité de France
established a joint venture Sviluppo Nucleare Italia Srl for studying the feasibility of building at least four reactors using Areva
's European Pressurized Reactor
s.
. A further Italian nuclear power referendum was held on the 13th June 2011 and the No vote won, leading to cancellation of future nuclear power plants planned during the previous years, and due to the Italian nuclear power referendum turn out being over 50%+1 of the Italian population creates a legally binding cancellation of future plants.
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
was used until the Italian nuclear power referendum
Italian nuclear power referendum, 1987
Five nationwide popular referendums were held in Italy on 8 November 1987, with three questions about nuclear energy after the Chernobyl disaster, and two questions about justice. Voting day had been postponed of six months, according to the Italian Constitution, because of the snap election of...
closed all plants by 1990, a decision which was reversed in 2008 (see also nuclear power debate
Nuclear power debate
The nuclear power debate is about the controversy which has surrounded the deployment and use of nuclear fission reactors to generate electricity from nuclear fuel for civilian purposes...
). Calling the phase-out a "terrible mistake, the cost of which totalled over €50 billion (approximately $68 billion)", Industry Minister Claudio Scajola proposed building as many as 10 new reactors, with the goal of increasing the nuclear share of Italy's electricity supply from today's 10% to about 25% by 2030. Following the 2011 Japanese nuclear accidents
2011 Japanese nuclear accidents
This is a list of articles describing aspects of the nuclear shut-downs, failures, and nuclear meltdowns triggered by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.-Fukushima nuclear power plants:* Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant...
, the Italian government put a one-year moratorium on plans to revive nuclear power. On 11—12 June 2011, Italian voters passed a referendum to cancel plans for new reactors. Over 94% of the electorate voted in favor of the construction ban, with 55% of the eligible voters participating, making the vote binding.
Italian nuclear power referendum, 1987
The Italian nuclear power referendum of November 1987 polled voters on three issues:- abolishing the statutes by which the Inter-ministries Committee for the Economical Programming (CIPE) could decide about the locations for nuclear plants, when the RegionsRegions of ItalyThe regions of Italy are the first-level administrative divisions of the state, constituting its first NUTS administrative level. There are twenty regions, of which five are constitutionally given a broader amount of autonomy granted by special statutes....
did not so within the time stipulated by Law 393; - abolishing rewards for municipalitiesComuneIn Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in whose territories nuclear or coal plants were to be built; - abolishing the statutes allowing EnelEnelEnel may refer to:*Enel SpA, an Italian electricity company*Enel , a fictional villain in the One Piece manga and anime series*Enel, meaning third in the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, cf. Awakening of the Elves...
to take part in international agreements to build and manage nuclear plants.
Some commenters find that the questions were actually too technical for non-experts and were used to obtain popular consent after Chernobyl disaster
Chernobyl disaster
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine , which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities in Moscow...
in 1986.
In each referendum Sì ("Yes") won. Subsequently, the Italian government decided in 1988 to phase out existing plants. This led to the termination of work on the near-complete Montalto di Castro Nuclear Power Station
Montalto di Castro nuclear power station
The Montalto di Castro nuclear power station was a nuclear power plant at Montalto di Castro in Italy. Consisting of two BWR units each of 982 MWe, it was approaching completion in 1988 when the Italian government decided to close all nuclear plants...
, and the early closure of Enrico Fermi Nuclear Power Plant
Enrico Fermi Nuclear Power Plant (Italy)
Enrico Fermi Nuclear Power Plant was a nuclear power plant at Trino , in north-west Italy....
and Caorso NPP, both of which closed in 1990. Italy's other nuclear power plants had already closed prior to the decision, Latina NPP in December 1987.
Post-referendum development
Since that time, Italy became a larger importer of power, reaching approximately 10% of their electricity from nuclear-dependent FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
by 2007. The new policy, pursued by Silvio Berlusconi's government, of embracing nuclear power was intended to reverse this trend. An earlier agreement to become part owner of the second EPR
European Pressurized Reactor
The EPR is a third generation pressurized water reactor design. It has been designed and developed mainly by Framatome , Electricité de France in France, and Siemens AG in Germany...
, to be built in France, was rejected by the French, Italian utilities are investing heavily in nuclear capacity in central Europe.
Restoration of nuclear energy
On 13 November 2007, during his speech at the World Energy CouncilWorld Energy Council
The World Energy Council is a global and inclusive forum for thought-leadership and tangible engagement with headquarters in London. Its mission is 'To promote the sustainable supply and use of energy for the greatest benefit of all people'....
in Rome, Italy's nuclear stance was criticized by CEO of Eni
Eni
Eni S.p.A. is an Italian multinational oil and gas company, present in 70 countries, and currently Italy's largest industrial company with a market capitalization of 87.7 billion euros , as of July 24, 2008...
, Paolo Scaroni
Paolo Scaroni
Paolo Scaroni, born on 28 November 1946 in Vicenza, Italy, is chief executive officer of Italian energy company Eni SpA.-Education:In 1969, Scaroni graduated from Bocconi University of Milan in the field of economics. In 1973 he obtained an MBA from Columbia Business School.-Career:In 1969, Scaroni...
. In January 2008, a think tank Energy Lab started a feasibility study for construction of three or four new nuclear power plants in Italy as a part of a new debate on nuclear power in the country. The Italian general election
Italian general election, 2008
A snap general election was held in Italy on 13 April and 14 April 2008. The election came after President Giorgio Napolitano dissolved parliament on 6 February 2008 following the defeat of the government of Prime Minister Romano Prodi in a January 2008 Senate vote, and the unsuccessful tentative...
of April 2008 saw the victory of the People of Freedom, a party which strongly supports nuclear power. Following the election victory, the new Italy's industry minister Claudio Scajola announced that the government scheduled the start of the construction of the first new Italian nuclear-powered plant by 2013. Enel S.p.A.
Enel
Enel may refer to:*Enel SpA, an Italian electricity company*Enel , a fictional villain in the One Piece manga and anime series*Enel, meaning third in the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, cf. Awakening of the Elves...
planned to build new reactors at one of three licensed sites: Garigliano
Garigliano Nuclear Power Plant
Garigliano Nuclear Power Plant was a nuclear power plant located at Sessa Aurunca , in southern Italy. It was named after the river Garigliano....
, Latina
Latina Nuclear Power Plant
Latina Nuclear Power Plant is a nuclear power plant at Latina, Lazio, Italy. Consisting of one 153 MWe Magnox reactor, it operated from 1963 until 1987....
, or Montalto di Castro
Montalto di Castro nuclear power station
The Montalto di Castro nuclear power station was a nuclear power plant at Montalto di Castro in Italy. Consisting of two BWR units each of 982 MWe, it was approaching completion in 1988 when the Italian government decided to close all nuclear plants...
. The first two had small reactors operating until 1982 and 1987. At Montalto di Castro two larger reactors were nearly completed when the country's referendum halted the construction in November 1987.
On 24 February 2009, a new agreement between France and Italy was signed, thus allowing Italy to share in France's expertise in the area of nuclear power station design. Under the agreement, a study was to be conducted to determine the feasibility of building 4 new nuclear power stations in Italy. On 9 July 2009 the Italian legislature passed an energy bill covering the establishment of a Nuclear Regulatory Agency and giving the government six months to select sites for new plants. However the nuclear agenda of Silvio Berlusconi's government was slowed down due to the strong opposition of ten Italian regions (Basilicata, Calabria, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Liguria, Marche, Molise, Puglia, Tuscany and Umbria), who challenged the energy bill passed on 9 July 2009 (the part that gives the government the responsibility for the reopening of nuclear facilities in the country) because they deemed it as unconstitutional. On 24 June 2010 the Italian Constitutional Court rejected the appeal, but the Italian Government had to approve a new version of the Legislative Decree 31/2010 on nuclear sites, in order to adapt it to the decision of the Constitutional Court. The members of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency were named by the government only on the 5th November 2010 and the list sent to the Italian Parliament for approval. On the 1st December 2010 a joint meeting of the Italian Parliament commissions for the Environment and for Productive Activities rejected one of the nominations putting a further stop to the Italian Government plans.
On 3 August 2009, Enel and Électricité de France
Électricité de France
Électricité de France S.A. is the second largest French utility company. Headquartered in Paris, France, with €65.2 billion in revenues in 2010, EDF operates a diverse portfolio of 120,000+ megawatts of generation capacity in Europe, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.EDF is one of...
established a joint venture Sviluppo Nucleare Italia Srl for studying the feasibility of building at least four reactors using Areva
Areva
AREVA is a French public multinational industrial conglomerate headquartered in the Tour Areva in Courbevoie, Paris. AREVA is mainly known for nuclear power; it also has interests in other energy projects. It was created on 3 September 2001, by the merger of Framatome , Cogema and...
's European Pressurized Reactor
European Pressurized Reactor
The EPR is a third generation pressurized water reactor design. It has been designed and developed mainly by Framatome , Electricité de France in France, and Siemens AG in Germany...
s.
2011 Referendum
The Italian Government put a one-year moratorium on its plans to revive nuclear power, following radiation leaks from the 2011 Japanese nuclear accidents2011 Japanese nuclear accidents
This is a list of articles describing aspects of the nuclear shut-downs, failures, and nuclear meltdowns triggered by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.-Fukushima nuclear power plants:* Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant...
. A further Italian nuclear power referendum was held on the 13th June 2011 and the No vote won, leading to cancellation of future nuclear power plants planned during the previous years, and due to the Italian nuclear power referendum turn out being over 50%+1 of the Italian population creates a legally binding cancellation of future plants.
External links
- Nuclear power in Italy at the WNAWorld Nuclear AssociationThe World Nuclear Association , formerly the Uranium Institute, is an international organization that promotes nuclear power and supports the many companies that comprise the global nuclear industry...
site. - Nuclear power profile of Italy at the NEANuclear Energy AgencyThe Nuclear Energy Agency is an intergovernmental multinational agency that is organized under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development...
site.