EOn hosts Italian delegation

Monday, 6 April 2009

A group of Italian politicians has toured a German nuclear power plant in a signal of EOn's interest in the emerging Italian nuclear market.

 

The tour on 3 April came two months after the head of EOn's Italian arm spoke at a hearing of the Italian Senate Industry Commission. At that meeting Klaus Schaefer said that "EOn is interested in nuclear energy in Italy and is ready to enter this market." He added that "EOn is following the political and legislative process" as well as the debate on Italy's energy interests. He concluded that "our readiness [to invest] is there and is transparent" and that this will happen "the moment conditions will be mature."

 

EOn's Isar power plant was the destination for three representative of the Industry Commission - the president Cesare Cursi, government representative Sergio Vetrella and opposition representative Manuela Granaiola. Also on the tour were Schaefer, EOn Italia's director of institutional relationships and the EOn Italia communication director.

 

Isar 2 is a pressurized water reactor (Image: WaveCult)

 

Italian nuclear energy was stopped by a referendum in the 1980s and appropriate legislation is now being put in place to facilitate the return to the energy source. At the same time, German nuclear energy has been restricted since 2001 by legislation enacted by Green politicians in a coalition government. Any moves by a major German-based utility to make huge investments in Italy instead of at home would in that respect be quite notable to German industrialists.

 

EOn is working hard to achieve new nuclear build elsewhere in Europe, particularly the UK where it has announced intentions for over 6000 MWe of new nuclear capacity in partnership with another German utility, RWE. The pair is currently taking part in the auction of land owned by the UK government, although they already own three potential sites between them. EOn is also the major shareholder in Fennovoima, which is vying to build a new large reactor in Finland.

 

EOn has said it is interested in consortia for nuclear projects, but would prefer to have a leadership role, which it said would allow it to use its expertise as an operator of a fleet of nuclear power reactors.

 

A major move from EOn into Italy would certainly help to make real prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's target of 25% of electricity to come from nuclear by 2020. In February a venture was announced between Electricité de France and the main Italian power company, Enel. The two will form a 50/50 partnership to study the feasibility of building four reactors amounting to 6400 MWe.