Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's push to revive Italy's nuclear power sector advanced significantly on Wednesday as parliament approved a law enabling new atomic energy plants. Italy shut all nuclear plants by 1990 after public backlash following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Facing high energy costs from reliance on imported natural gas, Meloni's government sees domestic nuclear capacity as vital for energy security and competitiveness. Former industry minister Carlo Calenda urged swift action to reverse past nuclear shutdowns, stating, "I want Italy to be a major industrial power, and that won't happen without nuclear power."

The new law, passed 81-51 in the Senate, establishes regulatory principles for nuclear installations including small modular reactors, spent fuel management, and safety protocols. Energy minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin called it "a historical day for Italy" and aims for first domestic reactors by 2035. Italy currently imports nuclear power from France.

Opposition critics argue the nuclear focus distracts from urgent renewable energy expansion. Peppe De Cristofaro of the Green and Left Alliance called the technologies "non-existent," while Five Star Movement's Luigi Nave predicted "at least two decades" before operation. Democratic Party's Nicola Irto labeled the measure "pure propaganda."