POLITICS

Italian parliament backs Meloni's plan to restart nuclear power

PUBLISHED Sep 23, 2026, 11:53 AM ET

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Media Bias Meter

Sources: 17

Center 100%

Sources: 17

Italy’s upper house of parliament, the Senate, has granted final approval to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s legislative framework to restart nuclear power generation. The vote marks a historic policy shift for the nation, which completely abandoned atomic energy following referendums after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and the 2011 Fukushima accident. The approved measure establishes a twelve-month regulatory window to draft specific decrees covering safety protocols, licensing frameworks, and long-term radioactive waste management. Proponents argue the revival is vital for national energy security and meeting European Union decarbonization targets by 2050. The government plans to utilize advanced Small Modular Reactors instead of traditional large facilities to mitigate financial risks and construction delays. Critics caution that high upfront costs, ongoing public skepticism, and the absence of a permanent national waste repository remain significant hurdles for the ambitious energy transition.

By Ayesha A. | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl disaster triggered international atomic energy policy reassessments.
On November 13, 1987, Italian referendums led to the suspension of nuclear plants.
On March 11, 2011, the Fukushima nuclear accident occurred following a major earthquake.
On June 13, 2011, Italian voters overwhelmingly rejected nuclear power revival proposals.
On October 22, 2022, Giorgia Meloni assumed office as Italy's prime minister.
On March 15, 2024, the Italian government hosted a national conference on nuclear energy.
On May 10, 2025, officials introduced initial legislative frameworks for advanced nuclear technology.
On September 10, 2026, the Italian lower house passed the nuclear framework bill.
On September 23, 2026, Italy's Senate gave final approval to restart nuclear energy.
Over the coming twelve months, regulators will draft specific nuclear implementation decrees.
By 2050, Italy aims to align its energy grid with EU decarbonization targets.

News Intelligence

Immediate US impact: Minimal immediate impact on United States energy markets or policy.
Possible long-term US impact: Potential long-term US clean energy technology export partnerships with Italy.
Most affected groups: Italian energy firms, government agencies, and European manufacturing supply chains.
Reader priority: Readers should monitor international wire reports and official government statements.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 17
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 17

Explain Framing

Left: Framed around environmental safety risks and unresolved waste management challenges. Center: Framed objectively around historic policy shifts and energy security goals. Right: Framed as a bold nationalist step toward economic energy independence.