Italy’s Societa Gestione Impianti Nucleari SpA (Sogin), the state-owned company responsible for decommissioning NPPs, has signed a collaboration agreement with the European Commission’s (EC’s) Joint Research Centre (JRC) on the development and implementation of a common strategy in nuclear dismantling and radioactive waste management activities. The five-year agreement, which can be renewed, was signed by Sogin CEO Gian Luca Artizzu and JRC Director for Nuclear Decommissioning & Waste Management Laurent Jerrige.

The agreement has three objectives:

  • promoting cooperation in the development of innovative approaches for the resolution of technical and scientific issues in nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste management;
  • developing synergies and shared projects to reduce the time and costs of dismantling operations; and
  • encouraging joint staff training initiatives based on the Radwaste Management School in Sogin and EC’s European Learning Initiatives for Nuclear Decommissioning & Environmental Remediation.

Sogin’s Artizzusaid that, through the relationship with JRC “we intend to carry out common projects to encourage innovation and, at the same time, improve performance in the decommissioning and management of radioactive waste -industrial sectors relevant for a return to nuclear power with a view to sustainable development in the country”.

Italy was a leading nuclear power-producing country in the 1960s but chose to phase out nuclear following a referendum in the wake of the Chornobyl disaster. Government attempts to reverse the decision were rejected by another referendum in 2011, shortly after the Fukushima accident. However, the Lower House of Parliament has now passed two motions committing the government to “consider including nuclear power as an alternative and clean source of energy production in the national energy mix” so as to “accelerate Italy’s decarbonisation process.”

Image: JRC Director for Nuclear Decommissioning & Waste Management Laurent Jerrige (L) and Sogin CEO Gian Luca Artizzu (R) at the signing of the agreement