“Arturo” Nuclear Power Plant and the Technopolitics of Italian Nuclear Decommissioning

In the decades following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and the 1987 abrogative referendum, Italy formally exited nuclear energy production. Yet nuclear issues have remained deeply embedded in the national landscape, particularly through the complex and often delayed process of decommissioning former nuclear sites. Among these, the Caorso Nuclear Power Plant, know colloquially as “Arturo,” stands out as a case rich in technopolitical and historical significance. This article offers an analysis of the challenges Italian actors faced in nuclear decommissioning, focusing on the Caorso site as a window into broader debates around energy policy, regulatory governance, and environmental responsibility.