The Italian government is seeking to restore nuclear power in the country to reduce carbon dioxide emissions with the first new reactors in operation within 10 years, according to the Financial Times (subscription needed).

The London-based newspaper said prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s rightwing government is planning to introduce legislation that will allow investment in small modular reactors (SMRs).

Environment and energy security minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin told the Financial Times that nuclear power should account for at least 11% of the country’s total electricity consumption by 2050 as Italy seeks to reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels.