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Francesco Corbellini
1981 that had become necessary in the other European countries affected, like Italy, by the reduction in hydropower availability due to the intense cold and a strong increase in the demand for electricity. The “Professor” was proud of his creation, for the information it could provide, in real time, on the demand for electricity and its penetration into the life and customs of the country. Back then, one of the most anticipated expectations of nationalization was rural electrification. Today, we speak of the “quality” of customer service, but 50 years ago, nearly two million Italians were not able to use any electricity at all. However, certain data was lacking, so Enel started a thorough investigation throughout the country. This was the programming tool for all the intervention plans in the sector which, already in 1971, led to halving the problem and then, the total electrification of the country. Meanwhile, public opinion’s preoccupation for the environment increased, a new challenge that Enel faced with various measures regarding the power plants and the creation of special environmental research laboratories: research and laboratories, a theme that was dear to Professor Angelini, who had started his career in 1931 as the head of the laboratory of measurements and electrical tests at the company TERNI.
In Prof. Angelini's vision, as provided by the nationalization law, the shares of Enel were to maintain the minimum operating costs consistent with the required efficiency of the service. And, in fact, economies of scale made possible by the size and by the unity of the institution, the coordinated operation and modernization of equipment, the unifications, the diffusion of automation, the reduction in fuel consumption per kWh and in energy losses, helped to substantially reduce the cost per kWh. Therefore, Enel, as noted by Prof. Castronovo in his preface of the book Fifty years of electricity industry in Italy, despite many difficulties, “has managed to carry out the tasks that were assigned to it, and thus legitimize its raison d'être.” I am sure that Professor Angelini would have been very pleased with this judgment. On February 16, 1979, the Enel Board of Directors named Angelini honorary president of the institution. Even in this new capacity, he continued to observe the same number of work hours as ever; not infrequently, he would ask me for a comment, an opinion, about publications, reports, conferences; these requests, just as when he was “in service” and in keeping with his style, were always perfectly structured and in his own handwriting.
The proposal to take the chair of the presidency of Enel was made to me in December of 1978, while I was doing something completely different. Over the course of twenty years, with the help of a group of young engineers and using Italian equipment, we had set up a series of power plants scattered throughout developing countries, with a total capacity comparable to that of Enel. Prodi explained to me that the rationale behind his choice was that I most likely had the talent to construct the power plants that were required in Italy, as well. Among endless difficulties, we began to create our nuclear energy plan. We started by putting the Caorso Nuclear Power Plant in order. We prevailed upon our best nuclear engineers to explain our reasons to the country and brought together a group of enthusiastic young people to maintain relations with the municipalities of the future sites. Toward the end of my term of office, the nuclear program had taken shape. The first group at Montalto was ready for the fuel to be loaded; construction of the second plant was going smoothly. We had determined
the location for the plant in Trino Vercellese. All this for 5,000 MW and with the consent of the local authorities. I remember having slowly entered the vessel of the first group at Montalto with great satisfaction. For lack of room, Professor Angelini had to wait outside for me. A few days later, the Chernobyl disaster occurred, sweeping away the Italian nuclear program. The fuel was never loaded.
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