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Publish Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2024, 12:43 PM
MILAN, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Italy's Edison (EDNn.MI) , opens new tab is interested in participating in a government project to develop new generation nuclear power in the country, the chief executive of France's EDF subsidiary said on Tuesday.
Earlier this month Industry Minister Adolfo Urso said that Italy was planning to create a new company with domestic and foreign partners that would build advanced third-generation reactors, despite the fact that nuclear power generation is currently banned in the country.
The government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni plans to draft, by early 2025, rules to allow the use of new nuclear power technologies, the energy minister said earlier this month, signalling a potential reversal of the current ban.
"We are interested in participating in a new company (on nuclear power). We are waiting for the publication of documents... we want to be part of this project," Edison's Nicola Monti said on the sidelines of an energy conference in Milan.
Monti said that Edison was involved in the discussions among nuclear players on a potential revival of this source of energy in Italy and added specific skills were needed to join such a project.
"Nuclear is not for everyone. Players with the right skills can be counted on the fingers of one hand."
Italy banned nuclear energy after it was rejected in a national referendum in 1987 and another in 2011.
According to media reports, state-backed Ansaldo Nucleare, state-controlled Enel (ENEI.MI) , opens new tab, nuclear specialist Newcleo would be involved in setting up the new company on nuclear power.
Edison last year said it was willingly to restart producing nuclear energy in Italy by 2040 if the regulatory framework allows it.
The Italian utility can count on the nuclear technology and the skills developed by EDF. It has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with energy groups Ansaldo Energia and Ansaldo Nucleare for the use of nuclear power to decarbonise the steel industry.
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https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/edison-interested-being-part-italys-project-nuclear-power-ceo-says-2024-09-17/