  The Italian civil nuclear projects had a very early origin, with the first
ideas originating as far back as 1945. The construction of the first three
plants dated back to the period 1956-1964, and at that time Italy ranked third
in the world for installed power. However, the very ambitious projects were
immediately after thwarted in the early 1960s by the "Ippolito trial".
Actually, a whole range of advanced programmes for the development of the
country went to a stop, since they clashed with national and international
major powers. Italy was relegated to a second rank power. The fourth nuclear
plan was designed in 1970, and its commercial operation began in 1981. In the
meantime, a strong anti-nuclear movement grew, and the position of the
pro-nuclear Italian Communist Party began to change. After the Chernobyl
accident, a national referendum was held, which in 1987 put an end to the
Italian nuclear programmes.
