Sept 8 (Reuters) - Italy is looking to create a new company to build small nuclear reactors, and officials are in preliminary talks with state-backed Ansaldo Nucleare SpA, state energy giant Enel (ENEI.MI) , opens new tab and UK-based Newcleo to develop the plan, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The move comes after the energy minister on Saturday disclosed plans to draft rules to allow the use of new nuclear power technologies by early 2025.

If the Italian parliament approves the draft legislation in the course of 2025 it will potentially reverse the country's current ban on nuclear power production.

Discussions regarding an international partner are underway, though a final choice hasn't been made, the report added.

Ansaldo Nucleare, Enel and Newcleo did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Nuclear fission as a source of energy is a controversial topic in Italy, where nuclear power plants are banned following referendums in 1987 and 2011.

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https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/italy-talks-create-nuclear-power-firm-bloomberg-news-reports-2024-09-08/