Industry leaders urge Spain to keep nuclear power plants operating

José Antonio Jainaga, president of Sidenor, warned that shutting Spain’s nuclear reactors would be "the biggest industrial disaster" for the country, even describing it as a death sentence. He stressed that nuclear plants provide about 19 % of stable generation capacity and protect the grid from blackouts, while also reducing Spain’s dependence on oil price volatility.

Iberdrola Spain CEO Mario Ruiz‑Tagle called it "honest, fair and reasonable" to reconsider the scheduled closure of the Almaraz nuclear plant, which he said is among the world’s best facilities. He warned that other nations that have shut reactors are now regretting the decision and highlighted the plant’s role in ensuring security and autonomy of supply. At the same event, Iberdrola’s renewable energy chief Julio Castro noted nuclear’s zero‑emission profile and the need for domestic storage solutions, citing the inauguration of a large battery system in Belvís de Monroy.

Both executives urged the government to grant extensions and adopt capacity mechanisms that would allow Spain to maintain nuclear output while developing complementary storage and hydro‑electric projects.