In a major policy shift, the Italian government of Giorgia Meloni has announced the creation of Nuclitalia, a new company set up to develop next-generation nuclear reactors. Supported by major energy firms such as Enel, Ansaldo, and Leonardo, the project marks Italy’s official return to nuclear energy, with the clear goal of strengthening the country’s energy independence, making it more attractive to industrial investment and less vulnerable to external crises.
The move follows last week’s signing of an ambitious agreement with Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to build a 1,000 megawatt undersea cable between Italy and Greece. The project, valued at €1.9 billion, aims to turn the two countries into a Mediterranean energy hub. “Our geographical position is an extraordinary advantage,” the Italian Prime Minister said, emphasizing the geopolitical value of every kilowatt.
The recent blackout that struck Spain and Portugal on April 28—the most severe power outage in Western Europe so far this century—has served as a wake-up call for the entire EU. In contrast with the energy isolation still experienced by the Iberian Peninsula, Italy boasts a robust network of over 30 active electrical interconnections, far exceeding the 2% connection rate that Spain maintains with the continent. Despite the low cost of renewable energy in the peninsula, its structural fragility was exposed, and assistance from France’s nuclear fleet was required to restore the supply. Spain’s overreliance on renewables has proven to be a key weakness in its green energy plan.
While Spain’s promises of new connections with France remain entangled in delays (the Pyrenees interconnection is not expected to be operational until at least 2028), Italy is choosing to act. And it does so by combining strategic vision, political will, and regional cooperation. This formula, already successfully applied by France for decades thanks to its powerful nuclear fleet, now points to a new southern energy alliance: Rome and Athens, as opposed to a Madrid adrift under socialist leadership for nearly a decade.
Italy’s nuclear bet—moderate, rational, and free of ideological baggage—offers a clear roadmap for a Europe facing increasingly complex energy challenges. In times of geopolitical tension, revisiting nuclear power as a guarantee of stability and sovereignty seems not only sensible but essential. And this time, it is Italy that is leading the way.
