Confindustria is moving forward on nuclear power

The nuclear power issue is in the foreground of a document introducing the association's energy guidelines

“The hope is that decisions may be taken in short time”. This is the answer from Maurizio Beretta, Confindustria’s General Manager to a question on nuclear power, an issue which has been one of the most topical at the “Confindustria Energia” conference.

And while Pasquale De Vita says that nuclear power is “a great opportunity and the only response to the upswing in energy prices and to our dependence on overseas supplies”, on the other side, Ermete Realacci, Minister for the Environment of the shadow Cabinet, claims “that the present government’s choice is wrong because it is based on old-fashioned technologies and that the costs for setting up nuclear power plants will eventually rebound on taxpayers’ pockets.”

“It is worth reminding people – he continued – that between the 70s and the late 80s 17 nuclear plants used to be built every year while from the early 90s to 2005 only 1.7 were implemented. Innovation and research, mainly on renewables, are, instead, the pathway to follow.” However, Realacci has also confirmed that his cabinet agrees on expanding research of fourth generation nuclear power systems. On the government’s side, Mario Baldassarri, president of the Senate’s Treasury commission said that “we need a solid energy plan envisaging environmental safety as well as diversified resources. Up to date the Italian energy bill has been equal to cost of 22 French power plants.” And the debate goes on while Albania’s prime minister Berisha claims his country is willing to ‘host’ Italy’s nuclear reactors.