US loses round one of Italian Nuclear Renaissance. Italy signs deal for French reactors. [View All]

Enel, EDF and Ansaldo Energia have signed an agreement for the development of nuclear power plants in Italy based on the Evolutionary Pressurised Reactor (EPR) design.

The agreement is aimed at specifying areas of potential co-operation between Enel-EDF and Ansaldo Energia — which holds 100 per cent of Ansaldo Nucleare — in the development and construction of at least four EPRs that Enel and EDF, along with Areva technology, intend to build in Italy.

Enel and EDF will act as investors and architect engineers, with overall responsibility for the project management, design, construction and commissioning.

Italy is becoming a nuclear battleground with France and the US competing furiously for a slice of its nuclear revival.

After fierce lobbying by both Paris and Washington, the first round is expected to be won by the French, who will tomorrow sign a number of strategic agreements with the Italians at a summit in Paris. Italy is planning to adopt the French EPR new generation reactor for the first stage of its nuclear renaissance. This will involve the construction of four plants with France's EDF electricity utility and the Areva nuclear engineering group co-operating with Italy's Enel electricity utility and the Finmeccanica engineering and defence conglomerate.

But the plants will only provide half the targeted 25 per cent of Italy's energy needs by 2025. The country will open a second round of tenders for nuclear reactors, and these are likely to go to Westinghouse. By opting for the US technology, the Italians will presumably be seeking to achieve a diplomatic balance that goes beyond the energy sector - just as they have done by co-operating in both US and European programmes in the civil aircraft field.