Italy sets 'general criteria' for new nuclear plants

The Italian government yesterday set "general criteria" on where nuclear plants will be built more than 20 years after the nation rejected nuclear power in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster.

The government "has finalised and approved the legislative decree that sets out the procedure to restart nuclear power" in Italy, said a statement published by the economic development ministry.

Many Italian regions have come out against the building of nuclear sites on their territory and the issue is already colouring the political debate in regional elections to be held next month. Construction of nuclear power plants is set to begin in 2013 with the plants scheduled to become operational from 2020.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced shortly after taking power in May 2008 that Italy would begin building nuclear power stations to reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil and gas supplies.

The government has set a target of producing one-quarter of its power needs through nuclear energy by 2030.

Nuclear power was banned in Italy after a referendum held in 1987, the year after the reactor accident at Chernobyl, Ukraine, sent highly radioactive fallout over large areas of Europe.

The country's four nuclear plants operating at the time were shut down.