Italy Goes Nuclear, Gold's Rough Week, and Washington Powers Up the Lobito Corridor — The Mining Insider

Italy Senate approves nuclear power return (81-51) — Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin quote; 40-year ban ends; 11%+ nuclear share targeted, 22% in national climate plan; €17B ($19B USD) decarbonisation savings by 2050; advanced modular reactors; 12 months for government implementing decrees; uranium demand signal for global markets. Precious metals weekly wrap: gold -2.2% for the week, silver -3.1%; Friday rebound gold +0.46% to $4,284.91, silver +1.08% to $64.29; silver worst day -4.6% Wednesday; hawkish Fed/high yields pressure; gold still +14% YoY, silver +39% YoY. USTDA / Anzana Electric Group Lobito Corridor feasibility study — DRC Lualaba + Zambia NW provinces hydropower for copper/cobalt mines and 3M+ people; Deputy Director Thomas Hardy quote; $753M corridor financing; Lobito Atlantic Railway doubling cargo volumes next year. Barrick Loulo-Gounkoto Mali: September 28 strike deadline is tomorrow, no resolution announced.

Sources:
- Reuters — Italy nuclear Senate approval: https://www.reuters.com/world/italian-parliament-backs-melonis-plan-restart-nuclear-power-2026-09-23/
- Bloomberg — Italy nuclear power: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-23/italy-approves-return-of-nuclear-power-after-four-decade-ban
- Rio Times — Gold/silver weekly wrap: https://www.riotimesonline.com/gold-silver-precious-metals-saturday-september-26-2026/
- USTDA — Lobito Corridor power: https://ustda.gov/ustda-supports-reliable-power-for-africas-lobito-corridor/
- Reuters — Barrick Mali strike: https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/multiple-unions-threaten-strikes-barricks-flagship-mali-gold-mine-documents-show-2026-09-18/