Confindustria: steering committee on nuclear power, development of the national energy mix and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) launched

Rome, 9 October 2024 - The Confindustria Steering Committee that will analyse the potential for production and use in Italy of the Small Modular Reactoras an opportunity to develop decarbonised energy carriers.
The Steering Committee, chaired by Aurelio Regina, Energy Delegate of the President of Confindustria, is made up of personalities from the worlds of science, academia and industry, including Gianluca Artizzu CEO of Sogin, Massimo Beccarello Professor at the University of Milan Bicocca, Federico Boschi Head of the Energy Department of the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security, Stefano Buono CEO of Newcleo, Roberto Cingolani CEO of Leonardo, Gilberto Dialuce President of ENEA, Lorenzo Fiorillo Chief Technology Officer of Eni, Daniela Gentile CEO of Ansaldo Nucleare, Antonio Gozzi Special Advisor for the EU Strategic Autonomy, Mattei Plan and Competitiveness of Confindustria, Nicolò Mardegan External Relations Director of Enel, Stefano Monti President of the Italian Nuclear Association, Nicola Monti CEO of Edison, Lorenzo Poli President of Assocarta, Agostino Re Rebaudengo President of Elettricità Futura, Francesca Salvemini Head of the Technical Secretariat of the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security, Agostino Scornajenchi CEO of CDP Venture Capital, Giuseppe Zampini Past President of Confindustria Genova.
In the current scenario, the electronuclear fission option is of paramount importance to ensure the competitiveness and energy security of the national manufacturing and energy system, and to guarantee the achievement of European and national decarbonisation targets.
'New, safe and small electronuclear technologies could play an important role for the industrial system - said Aurelio Regina, Energy Delegate of the President of Confindustria - as they can be installed in gas and energy-intensive (hard-to-abate) production sites providing the electricity and process heat they need.
Confindustria's work will focus on legal-legislative, technological, economic and R&D aspects, deepening the mapping of the supply chain and the need for skills, the results of which will be presented in 2025 with ENEA as knowledge partner. Confindustria, in fact, has recently renewed the Memorandum of Understanding with ENEA that will allow it to conduct projects and in-depth studies to provide the technological, regulatory and market foundations to ensure a stable and competitive energy transition path.
According to Confindustria, it is necessary to define a national energy mix based on technological neutrality and the optimal and efficient use of all decarbonisation technologies already in use and under development, as well as modernisation and digitalisation of the national energy infrastructure system and, consequently, of the entire national energy system. As indicated by the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (NIPEC), nuclear power will be able to contribute to the country's future, and the national supply chain is ready to play its part thanks to the many skills and capabilities developed, mainly, in projects carried out abroad.