Younger Italians warm to nuclear power as Meloni pushes revival four decades after Chernobyl

Italy is preparing a legal framework to revive nuclear power, centered on small modular and other advanced reactors.

Parliament is expected to approve follow-up rules on licensing, safety, waste, and plant siting.

Officials say the first reactors could begin operating in the early 2030s.

The push is driven by rising electricity demand, climate goals, and energy security concerns after the Ukraine war.

The move would mark a major policy reversal in a country long shaped by anti-nuclear sentiment after Chernobyl and Fukushima.