Italy's nuclear relaunch moved forward with Law No. 169 of 29 September 2026, which enters into force on 15 October 2026 and gives the government a twelve-month window to issue implementing rules. The law is an enabling statute, not a construction program. Actual electricity generation still depends on an independent regulator, a financeable reference project, and a workable spent fuel and waste plan. Article 3 keeps technology neutral, so it does not exclude large reactors, and it allows recognition of foreign certifications. The real constraints are institutional. ISIN, Italy's nuclear safety regulator, had 79 permanent staff at the start of 2026 against an authorized establishment of 90, with seven departures expected, which limits how many new licensing reviews can actually be done. Modular reactors would reduce the size of a single unit trip, but they still need heat rejection and grid studies. Terna will need project-specific data on credible losses and dynamic behavior. Waste acceptance remains the deciding issue: a repository site qualification guide is progress, but it is not a licensed facility. The program will only become an industry if the back end, licensing, and grid integration stay aligned.
