Spain moves to approve Almaraz nuclear plant extension

Spain’s Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) is slated to convene a full session before the August holidays and is expected to issue a favorable report on extending the operating life of the Almaraz nuclear plant in Extremadura. Once the report reaches the Ministry of Ecological Transition, the government will have exactly two months to ratify the extension, after which the request would lapse.

The extension would keep both reactors in operation until at least 2030, safeguarding thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the region and bolstering national energy security amid volatile hydrocarbon markets and the war in Ukraine. The shift follows the government’s earlier opposition to extending nuclear lifespans; Minister Sara Aagesen’s “three red lines” – no extra cost to citizens, supply security, and public safety – are deemed satisfied except for the safety assessment that the CSN report will confirm. Owners Iberdrola, Endesa and Naturgy have sought the prolongation, making Almaraz the first test case for a possible broader reconsideration of Spain’s nuclear phase‑out schedule.