Italy is set to return to nuclear energy following a final vote in the Senate on Wednesday. The legislation, which passed with a vote of 81-51 and seven abstentions, marks a significant policy shift for the nation, which abandoned nuclear power nearly 40 years ago in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster. The bill had previously cleared the lower Chamber, finalizing the legislative path for the government to pursue atomic energy as a component of its national power grid.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has championed the return to nuclear power as a key pillar of her administration’s energy security strategy. Supporters of the bill argue that nuclear energy is essential for Italy to achieve its long-term climate goals and reduce reliance on foreign energy imports. While the legislation provides the legal framework for the move, officials acknowledge that the construction of new reactors is a long-term project that will take years to materialize. The transition remains a subject of debate, as the country balances the need for stable, carbon-neutral energy against the historical public opposition that led to the original ban in the 1980s.