Vice President Marco Golinelli: "Implementing decrees, investments, and business qualifications will be crucial to transforming nuclear power into an opportunity for our manufacturing industry."
The Senate's final approval of the enabling bill on sustainable nuclear energy marks a new phase for Italian industry. According to Anima Confindustria , a federation of 35 associations representing mechanical engineering companies, the priority now is to translate the new regulatory framework into an industrial policy capable of leveraging the country's existing technological and manufacturing expertise and strengthening Italian companies' participation in European and international nuclear programs.
Anima Confindustria has followed the measure from the early stages of the parliamentary process, speaking at a hearing in the Chamber to emphasize that nuclear power represents not only an energy choice but also a long-term industrial project . In this context, the Government has committed to encouraging the participation of Italian industry in nuclear development programs, enhancing the contribution of businesses, research institutions, and universities.
"The approval of the delegation is an important step, but it represents a starting point. It's certainly positive that a proposal launched by Anima Confindustria, which strengthened the focus on leveraging national and European suppliers in identifying technologies , was accepted during the Chamber's consideration," said Marco Golinelli , vice president of Anima Confindustria. "The real challenge will be to transform the law's guidelines into concrete industrial policy. We need clear implementing decrees, clear timelines, and tools to support companies in investing, qualifying, and accessing new supply chains."
Numerous companies represented by Anima already operate in the European and international nuclear supply chains and possess expertise, technologies, and certifications applicable to next-generation plants. The Nuclear Group, active within Anima Energia, also operates along this path, bringing together several member companies committed to fostering discussion, collaboration, and growth in the sector in Italy.
" Nuclear energy can become a lever for competitiveness, innovation, and strategic autonomy for the country ," concludes Golinelli. "To achieve this, the industrial sector must be involved in implementation decisions from the outset. Anima is ready to collaborate with the government and institutions to ensure that the Italian mechanical engineering sector plays a fundamental role in the development of an Italian industrial sector."
The discussion will continue at the Italy-France Civil Nuclear Summit 2026 , promoted by Anima Confindustria in collaboration with Ain, Business France, and ICE Agenzia. The event will kick off on October 12th in Milan and will bring together institutions and key industrial players from both countries, with meetings dedicated to cooperation, supply chains, and business opportunities.
Mechanical exports exceed 20 billion euros in the first half of the year
The figures presented at Anima Export Days 2026: +2.8% compared to the same period last year. Exports are growing in the USA, China, and Germany. Exports of the mechanical engineering sector represented by Anima Confindustria reached €20.4 billion in the first half of 2026, up 2.8% compared to the same period in 2025. The data, processed by Anima's Statistics Office based on Istat data, were presented during the Brescia leg of Anima Export Days , the initiative dedicated to the internationalization of the Italian mechanical engineering sector. Running from September 28th to October 1st, the event is bringing together companies in the sector with selected international buyers. Now in its sixth edition, the Export Days are a collaboration between Anima Confindustria, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), with the aim of fostering new trade relations and supporting the strengthening of Italian companies' presence in foreign markets . This year, the B2B meetings involve operators from over 20 countries and are taking place in four locations : Borgosesia, Turin, Brescia, and Bassano del Grappa. The initiative comes at a time when geopolitical tensions and uncertainties over trade policies continue to impact international trade. Against this backdrop, data for the first half of 2026 paint a resilient picture for the mechanical engineering sector, represented by Anima. Exports from Anima's sectors totaled €20.4 billion , up 2.8% from €19.8 billion in the same period in 2025. The trend confirms the sector's strong international vocation , albeit with varying trends. The main export components include valves and faucets , gas turbines, hydraulic pumps, and air conditioning systems. Other sectors are showing positive results, while others are experiencing a decline. Geographically, the United States remains the leading destination market for exports in the animal and animal sectors, with €2.38 billion in the first six months of 2026, up 2.4% compared to the same period of the previous year. Germany follows, with €1.99 billion (+4.8%), and France, with €1.81 billion (+2.9%). Alongside the more established European markets, some particularly significant trends are emerging in non-EU areas, starting with China, the Middle East, and North Africa. Despite a general decline towards the Gulf countries (-3.7%), exports to Saudi Arabia grew by 14.6% (665.1 million euros) , supported by the sectors related to process plants, energy, infrastructure and cooling. In China , exports of the Anima sectors grew by 22.3% and reached almost 720 million euros . The aeraulic systems sector was the main driver of this increase. Steam turbines and air compressors also recorded good growth in China. Algeria's growth was even more significant, rising 146.7% from €173.3 million to €427.6 million. This result was primarily driven by technologies such as gas turbines (which account for approximately 47% of total exports to the country), valves and taps, as well as pressure products and equipment. These flows are often tied to individual orders and therefore not necessarily characterized by continuous trends, but the data highlights the ability of Italian companies to seize opportunities even in rapidly developing markets. "The 2.8% growth in exports in the first half of the year confirms the ability of Italian mechanical engineering to maintain a competitive position on international markets, even in a period characterized by geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainty. The United States remains the primary destination market, while the results in China and Algeria demonstrate the ability of companies to seize opportunities in different markets. This is a sign of resilience that must be accompanied by greater diversification and a strengthened international presence. In this regard, the Export Days represent a concrete tool for creating new relationships and business opportunities," stated Pietro Almici, president of Anima Confindustria . On the import front, in the first six months of the year, the Anima sectors recorded a 1.2% increase, for a total value of 9.73 billion euros; this figure completes the current trade picture and confirms the centrality now assumed by international markets beyond the European one. It is in this context that Anima is renewing its Export Days , transforming market analysis into a concrete opportunity for supply and demand to meet.
Industriale.it certification