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© ICIS HEREN - Enel: Italy needs increased nuclear capacity to balance system

2010-10-08

Italy needs at least eight 1.6GW nuclear plants to balance its "fragile energy system", CEO of Italy`s incumbent producer Enel said on Wednesday (6th October). According to local media reports, Fulvio Conti told an industry event in Milan that high Italian power prices were fuelled by an unbalanced energy mix, currently relying too much on gas. He also blamed an almost total dependence on imports, saying "about 85% of primary power consumed in Italy comes from abroad, 60% of the production is generated by oil and gas, 80% of which coming only from three countries: Russia, Algeria and Libya." Enel has already committed to build four nuclear power plants "with the cooperation of whoever wants to take part in the project," the company`s CEO reiterated on Wednesday. A number of foreign companies had previously expressed interest in Italy`s nuclear future including French EDF and GDF SUEZ and Germany`s E.ON (see EDEM 28 September 2010). Enel is deeply committed to a nuclear revival in Italy but Conti admitted the biggest obstacle to nuclear in Italy is public opinion. "Enel is ready to start campaigning to convince the country", Conti said, as "we cannot miss this opportunity". A new generation of nuclear plants is not that far off, however. The newly-appointed Italian minister for economic development (MSE) Paolo Romani had previously said new regulations for new nuclear build could be ready by next March (see EDEM, 06 October 2010). Italy is committed to start building its first nuclear power plant by 2013 with the first megawatts being delivered in 2020. (THE ICIS HEREN REPORTS - EDEM 14.195 / 08 October 2010)

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