MILAN, April 17 (Reuters) - Italy should reconsider its rejection of nuclear energy as it seeks greater energy security and economic stability, the head of the International Energy Agency said in an
IEA Chief: Italy Should Reconsider Nuclear Power for Energy Security and Stability
Italy's Nuclear Energy Debate and Energy Security
Current Energy Landscape in Italy
MILAN, April 17 (Reuters) - Italy should reconsider its rejection of nuclear energy as it seeks greater energy security and economic stability, the head of the International Energy Agency said in an interview published on Friday.
Italy has no operating nuclear reactors and relies heavily on energy imports, including electricity generated by nuclear power in neighbouring countries such as France.
Historical Context and Policy Shifts
Referendums and Legislative Barriers
Nuclear-fired power plants are prohibited in Italy following referendums in 1987 and 2011 but the government has been drafting rules to lift the ban through the use of new nuclear-power technologies.
IEA Perspective on Nuclear Power
Asked whether the debate in Italy over a possible return to nuclear power was the right choice, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol told Italian daily La Stampa: "I know that Italy rejected nuclear power in two referendums. But already two years ago, in Rome, I said that, if I were (Italy's) government, I would reconsider that choice and look more closely at nuclear energy".
Birol said Italy did not have abundant energy resources and that although it was doing very well on renewables it also needed "stable and continuous production."
"For economic prosperity, energy security and national sovereignty, Rome should evaluate nuclear power carefully, both in its traditional form and with new modular reactors," he said.
Government Actions and Public Opinion
Legal Framework for Nuclear Energy
The Italian government has drafted a new legal framework for nuclear energy which is expected to be approved by parliament in the coming months, but the subject is still controversial for the majority of the population.
Global Context and Alternatives
Energy Security Amid Geopolitical Tensions
Since the start of the Iran war, policymakers around the globe have been increasingly looking at ways to reduce long-term dependence on oil and gas imports, including by expanding nuclear energy.
Concerns from Anti-Nuclear Campaigners
Anti-nuclear campaigners cite safety concerns, high upfront capital construction costs and long construction times.
(Reporting by Francesca Landini in Milan, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
