MILAN (Thomson Financial) - Italy should seek to build nuclear plants in neighbouring countries facing the Adriatic Sea like Albania or Montenegro to meet energy demand in the medium term, said Giulio Tremonti, expected to become economy minister if the centre-right coalition wins the elections.
'Information circulating in international sets show that countries on the other side of the Adriatic are open to set up nuclear joint ventures. It seems to me that all geopolitical premises are there for success,' he said in an interview in the daily Il Sole 24 Ore.
A referendum held in 1987 banned the use of nuclear energy in Italy.
Tremonti said it would not be fair to say where Italy, which he said has the necessary technological know-how and financial resources, should set up these ventures. He said Albania and Montenegro are a possibility.
'Through joint ventures political and administrative times would be reduced,' he said.
Italy will hold general elections on April 13 and 14, with the centre-right coalition led by Silvio Berlusconi in pole position to win.