The construction of the power station, which was undertaken jointly by SIMEA SpA and the 'Nuclear Power Group' consortium (Backed by AEI, John Thompson, C. A. Parsons and Company, Head Wrightson and A. Reyrolle & Company) started in 1958, as a key component of Italy's nascent nuclear weapons program.

[2] Originally the station was rated at 210 MWe, but the danger of significant oxidation of mild steel components by the high temperature carbon dioxide coolant required (in 1969) a reduction in operating temperature from 390 to 360 °C, which reduced power by 24%, down to 160 MWe (Net.

In 1985 its license was renewed to operate until at least 1992, but after the Chernobyl disaster it was shut down early in 1987 as the result of a referendum.

[3] The power station had one Magnox nuclear reactor, supplying steam to three 70 MWe turbo generator sets which were manufactured by C. A. Parsons and Company.

Three 12-cylinder FIAT B3012ESS 1,500kW diesel generating sets were installed to provide electricity to auxiliary plant, in-case of a Loss Of Offsite Power (LOOP) event.