Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italy’s Minister of the Environment and Energy Security
The initiative aims to develop Italy’s first SMR, with construction contingent on establishing a regulatory framework for nuclear energy. The Ministry of Economy & Finance, alongside the Ministry of Environment & Energy and the Ministry of Enterprises, will oversee the project, with NewCo serving as the operational entity. Fratin, speaking at the Sole 24 Ore conference on Energy Transition and the Nuclear Industry in Milan, outlined the collaboration’s potential. He said: “We are talking about bringing together the knowledge of three major Italian companies. Enel is the large Italian company that built the last major nuclear power plant in Europe and manages those in Spain and South America. Ansaldo has practical experience of production at national level. It is involved in a series of experiments and research on new nuclear in collaboration with several countries. Leonardo is truly the centre of new technologies.”
Fratin also suggested future expansion, noting: “In the future, Fincantieri, one of the largest maritime companies, may also be added. Merchant traffic in the future, if we want to decarbonise, will have to use small reactors. Then there is also [energy company] Eni.” He emphasized the broader goal, stating: “We must work for Italy and on the nuclear front it means working to create the condition for the future of the new generations.”
Luca Mastrantonio, Head of Nuclear Innovation at Enel, addressed the conference, explaining the company’s approach. He said: “We are a neutral utility and therefore we look at all the solutions to achieve the goal of producing and distributing electricity in the safest way possible. In this sense, nuclear power complements other renewable sources… but history has taught us that to be successful you need a systemic effort. Precisely for this reason we proposed the creation of NewCo … to be able to prepare ourselves organically for nuclear power.” He added: “The first phase is a study phase of feasibility and selection of the best technology. Then there is a second driver of the first phase which is to prepare and qualify a supply chain for the future to perhaps extend beyond the national territory.”
The project builds on Italy’s historical role in European nuclear energy, aiming to position the country for a sustainable energy future through innovation and collaboration.
