"In the wake of the protests brought about by the choice of the site for a nuclear waste storage facility, the government is ready to modify its decision," the government said in a statement.

The decision will go on ice pending parliamentary discussions and the formation of a commission to consult with scientists and regional authorities on the choice of Scanzano Jonico, in the southern region of Basilicata, it said.

On the basis of these talks, either the choice of the site will be confirmed or a new site will be chosen.

"Once the choice on the site is made, construction work will start and will be finished in five or six years," the government said.

The Italian government has since January sought to consolidate its nuclear waste storage facilities in order to better protect against a possible terrorist attack.

It issued a decree last week naming a new site to be located in the rural village of Scanzano Jonico capable of storing around 60,000 cubic metres of second and third category nuclear waste.

Almost 55,000 cubic metres of highly radioactive nuclear waste and nearly 300 tonnes of spent fuel are currently stored at 19 sites throughout Italy.

TERRA.WIRE