For decades, nuclear energy was considered politically untouchable in Greece. Scarred by memories of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster and blessed with abundant sunshine and wind, the country instead focused on renewable energy while rejecting domestic nuclear power.
That long-standing consensus is now beginning to shift. The cabinet, at its July 30 meeting, approved the establishment of the inter-ministerial committee, which Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced in March in Paris, transferring the debate on nuclear energy to an organized institutional framework.
In the first stage of the process, Greece is asked to comprehensively assess the technical, economic, environmental, institutional and social parameters of nuclear energy, in order to decide whether to proceed with the development of a nuclear program.
Small Modular Reactors Draw Growing Interest
The debate has resurfaced following renewed discussion in government and the publication of analyses examining whether nuclear power—particularly next-generation Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)—could eventually complement Greece’s energy mix. While no decision has been taken to build a nuclear plant, policymakers are increasingly acknowledging that the country’s rapidly growing electricity needs may require every available low-carbon energy option.
Mitsotakis first signaled the policy shift in March when addressing the 2nd Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris. Declaring that “Greece is turning a page,” he announced the creation of a high-level ministerial committee to examine whether nuclear energy, and specifically SMRs, could have a future role in the Greek electricity system.
Although he stressed that Greece remains committed to expanding renewable energy, Mitsotakis argued that Europe would struggle to achieve energy security, industrial competitiveness, and strategic autonomy without nuclear power. He described Europe’s retreat from nuclear energy over previous decades as a “strategic error” and said rapidly advancing reactor technologies warranted a fresh evaluation.
Energy Security and Rising Electricity Demand
The Prime Minister emphasized that Greece is not currently planning to construct conventional large-scale nuclear power stations. Instead, the government intends to study emerging SMR technology, which promises lower costs, enhanced safety features, and greater flexibility than traditional reactors. SMRs typically produce up to 300 megawatts of electricity and are manufactured in modules that can be assembled on-site, potentially reducing construction times and costs. However, the technology remains in the early stages of commercial deployment worldwide.
The renewed discussion comes as Greece’s electricity demand is expected to rise sharply over the coming decades, driven by electrification, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence data centers, and the broader transition away from fossil fuels. While renewable energy now accounts for more than half of Greece’s electricity generation, solar and wind power alone cannot provide continuous baseload electricity when weather conditions are unfavorable.
The debate also reflects wider changes across Europe. Several countries, including France, Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic, are expanding nuclear capacity, while others are reconsidering earlier plans to phase it out. Meanwhile, neighboring Turkey is constructing its first nuclear power plant at Akkuyu.
A Long Road Ahead
For Greece, however, nuclear power remains a long-term question rather than an imminent policy choice. Any future project would require years of technical studies, regulatory approvals, financing arrangements, and public consultation. Still, the fact that Athens has officially opened the conversation marks a significant departure from decades of political reluctance.
Whether Greece ultimately embraces nuclear energy or decides to remain reliant on renewables and imported electricity, one thing has already changed: for the first time in a generation, nuclear power is no longer off the table.
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