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Almaraz nuclear plant extension approved by Spanish government until 2030
The Spanish government has authorized an extension for the Almaraz nuclear power plant, postponing its scheduled closure until June 2030. The decision, announced via a ministerial order in mid-August, follows a favorable report from the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN). This move shifts the original decommissioning timeline, which had initially targeted 2027 and 2028 for the plant's two reactors.
The extension has sparked significant debate regarding Spain's energy strategy. While the Ministry for the Ecological Transition maintains that the national goal of phasing out nuclear energy by 2035 remains unchanged, critics and labor unions have expressed concern. The CCOO union warned that this could disrupt the country's energy transition and economic planning, calling it a potential “major economic error.”
Environmental groups have also criticized the timing and process, suggesting the move protects the interests of major electricity companies like Iberdrola, Endesa, and Naturgy. There are concerns that this extension sets a precedent that could lead to similar requests for other plants, such as Ascó and Cofrentes, potentially complicating the planned transition to renewable energy sources.
Entities
Almaraz Nuclear Power Plant · Endesa · Iberdrola · Ministry for the Ecological Transition · Nuclear Safety Council · Spanish Government
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Iberdrola, Endesa, and Naturgy requested the extension of the plant's useful life. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.farodevigo.es
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Spanish government has approved postponing the closure of the Almaraz nuclear power plant. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.farodevigo.es
- [● 2 SOURCES] The plant's operation has been extended until June 2030. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.farodevigo.es
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Nuclear Safety Council endorsed the extension in mid-July. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.farodevigo.es
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Ministry for Ecological Transition authorized the postponement of the Almaraz nuclear plant closure until June 2030.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The extension of Almaraz could lead to a 9.5% reduction in the decommissioning rate, from 10.36 euros per MWh to 9.38 euros per MWh.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Spanish government is hesitant to guarantee a reduction in the nuclear decommissioning levy despite the Almaraz extension.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The nuclear decommissioning fund currently holds approximately 9,400 million euros.