Enel and Electricité de France have created a joint venture to assess the feasibility of building at least four nuclear power plants in Italy, marking the latest stage in the relaunch of the country’s nuclear industry more than 20 years after it was rejected by the public.

The new venture, known as Sviluppo Nucleare Italia, will be based in Rome and follows the signing of an agreement between the heads of government of the two countries in February to restart nuclear power production in Italy.