Energy and nuclear security in the new MASE Strategic Plan 2026-2028

The Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) has formally adopted the new Integrated Activity and Organization Plan (PIAO) for the three-year period 2026-2028 , defining a framework of operational priorities for the Italian energy system. The stated objective is to respond more effectively to geopolitical shocks and risks related to security of supply, while promoting the ecological transition through a technology-neutral approach that leverages all available technologies.

Energy security, natural gas and technology mix

At the heart of the new MASE Plan is national energy security , understood as the ability to ensure continuity of supplies and the competitiveness of the production system even in uncertain international environments. To this end, the Plan highlights the continuing significant role of natural gas as an accompanying fuel , to be enhanced through resource management tools and the optimization of strategic infrastructure such as regasification terminals and import hubs.

The strategic vision, however, is not limited to a single technology: the Plan reiterates the importance of continuing to decarbonize the energy system and developing tools that make the Italian energy mix increasingly resilient, integrating renewable sources, efficiency, and advanced technological solutions.

The role of sustainable nuclear power and technological neutrality

A key element of the document concerns sustainable nuclear power . The MASE Plan makes an operational commitment to ensure continuity in the development of the national regulatory framework and participation in international programs related to small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced nuclear technologies. This approach is part of a logic of technological neutrality, in which different solutions—from renewables to efficiency, to low-impact climate technologies—are considered complementary in Italy's energy transition .

At the same time, the Plan emphasizes the importance of completing key projects such as the construction of the National Radioactive Waste Repository, an integral part of a long-term strategy for the nuclear sector in Italy.

Implications for the energy sector and efficiency supply chains

For professionals, businesses, and operators in the energy sector, the MASE 2026-2028 Strategic Plan identifies several key directions that will have a concrete impact on investments, design, and technology development:

• greater integration between security of supplies and ecological transition , with resilience plans that include critical infrastructure;
• a diversified technological mix , which leaves room for both consolidated solutions and emerging innovations;
• a redefinition of regulatory and support tools to facilitate the adaptation of energy supply chains to the new sustainability objectives .

This strategic approach aims not only to strengthen the country's energy autonomy but also to promote the competitiveness of Italian companies in the European context, in a context where efficiency, innovation, and sustainability are becoming essential factors for the future of the national energy system.