EDF and Ansaldo Join A Partnership To Decarbonise Steel Industry

This week, EDF, Ansaldo Nucleare (ENS Corporate Members), Ansaldo Energia, Edison, and Federacciai announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at promoting cooperation in the use of nuclear energy to boost the competitiveness and decarbonisation of the Italian steel industry.

The signatories of the agreement will consider co-investment opportunities in new nuclear energy and, in particular, in the construction of Small Modular Reactors in Italy over the upcoming decade, making use of the SMR technology promoted by EDF, of Edison’s expertise, and of the engineering and industrial capabilities of Ansaldo branches.

Cooperation at both national and European level is crucial to be competitive and to move forward in a committed way on the path to decarbonisation

said Daniela Gentile, Ansaldo Nucleare Chief Executive Officer.

The commitment of Italian steelmakers is clear: we intend to lead the transition to a fully sustainable steel industry. […] We will work to ensure that this first important agreement can set an example for all hard-to-abate industrial sectors: this is the only viable way to meet the most ambitious decarbonisation targets

said Antonio Gozzi, President of Federacciai.

The five signatories firmly support the key role that nuclear energy has to play in achieving the European Union’s ambitious decarbonisation targets for 2050 and in improving the competitiveness of the industry.

In this framework, the parties undertake to explore the opportunity to establish a supply contract of nuclear energy in the medium and long term, leveraging primarily on the capacity of the interconnector already operating between Italy and France and thus contributing to the decarbonisation of steel production in Italy.

Read the full EDF Press Release.