Italy in talks with Westinghouse, EDF for nuclear plants, minister says
Adds details and background
ROME, Oct 17 (Reuters) -Italy is in talks with several companies including U.S. energy group Westinghouse and France's EDF as potential partners for a state-backed company that will build advanced nuclear reactors in the country, Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said.
"The scale of investment in nuclear power requires cooperation with several international players," he told reporters, confirming a Reuters report.
Nuclear-fired power plants are prohibited in Italy following referendums in 1987 and 2011.
However, the government plans to draft by the end of this year rules to allow the use of new nuclear-power technologies and lift the ban, the energy minister reiterated on Thursday.
The right-wing administration headed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thinks small modular reactors and advanced modular reactors could help decarbonise the country's most polluting sectors, including steel, glass and tilemakers.
Ansaldo Nucleare and start-up Newcleo would also be part of the government project to build SMRs, Reuters previously reported.
"We talk to all" the major operators, Pichetto Fratin said, confirming talks specifically with Westinghouse and EDF.
Italy estimates it would be able to save 17 billion euros ($18.40 billion) on the cost of decarbonising the economy by 2050, should it include at least 11% of nuclear power in its energy mix.
($1 = 0.9241 euros)
Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte, editing by Gianluca Semeraro and Rod Nickel
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