Roberto Abraham Scaruffi: France to revive Italian nuclear industry

Saturday 28 February 2009

France to revive Italian nuclear industry

Electricite de France (EdF) has agreed with Enel to "set the basis for the joint development of nuclear energy in Italy by the two companies." They are forming a 50:50 joint venture to conduct feasibility studies towards "at least four" EPR nuclear reactors in Italy. These would be built, owned and operated by new companies set up for the purpose, though Enel would take the lead in operations and hold a majority stake. While "retaining majority control of the entities" the two companies will invite other investors to participate. The agreement follows one in 2007 which gave EdF an option to participate in construction and operation of future Enel nuclear power plants in Italy or elsewhere in Europe and the Mediterranean. The new step is among the biggest that Italy has so far taken towards a re-employment of nuclear energy, which was phased out following a referendum called as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. This situation was reversed by the May 2008 general election, when the revival of Italy's nuclear energy featured.