Decrees within 2 yrs to implement nuclear framework law

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 23 - The government has been tasked with adopting, within the 24 months after a framework law to enable Italy to return to nuclear power comes into force, one or more decrees regulating the production of energy from sustainable nuclear sources, the dismantling of existing plants and the management of waste, among others, as part of a bill drafted by the environment ministry and released on Thursday.
    The bill, which also features the establishment of a nuclear control agency, is set to be discussed at the next government meeting, Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin has announced.
    It should be approved by the cabinet by the end of this month.
    Once the legislation is approved by parliament, the government will need to issue the executive decrees.
    Italy abandoned nuclear power following a referendum in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster but the government plans to return to atomic energy with small latest-generation reactors.
    "The government is tasked with adopting, within 24 months after the present law comes into force, one or more legislative decrees to discipline the production of energy from a sustainable nuclear sources on the national territory, also to produce hydrogen, the deactivation and dismantling of existing plants, the management of radioactive waste and of nuclear fuel waste, research, the development and use of fusion energy, as well as the reorganization of expertise and tasks", according to the draft framework legislation.
    The decrees will also need to adapt national legislation to European Union laws and international agreements, as well as regulate the dismantling of existing nuclear installations in Italy which will not be needed for research purposes.
    In addition, the decrees will need to establish, among others, where the new nuclear plants will be built. (ANSA).