Spain continues with its plan to close its five nuclear plants, with seven reactors in total, between 2027 and 2035.
This was decided after the Congress halted the possibility of extending the operation of its nuclear plants this Thursday.
Thus, by just one vote difference, the progressive closure schedule agreed upon in 2019 was confirmed.
The vote, which ended 171 in favor and 171 against, was defined by the abstention of Junts.
The amendment discussed today by Congress had been presented by the Partido Popular (PP) with the aim of stopping the four nearest final closure dates of plants.
In particular, it sought to avoid the dismantling of Almaraz I and II, Ascó I, and Cofrentes, four of the country’s seven active nuclear reactors.
The goal was to facilitate that the owning companies could request extensions without temporal restrictions.
Despite the tight vote, this allows the Spanish government to maintain its commitment to a total energy transition towards renewable sources.
However, this generates political tensions and doubts.
Currently, nuclear energy represents around 20% of the electricity generated in Spain.
Spain closes its nuclear plants and the schedule remains in place
With the rejection of the amendment, Spain will maintain the schedule to dismantle its five nuclear plants and seven reactors defined in 2019.
At the time, this was agreed upon between the Government, the electric companies (Iberdrola, Endesa, Naturgy, and EDP), and the National Radioactive Waste Company (Enresa).
The scheduled closure calendar, which now remains, is as follows:
- Almaraz I (Extremadura, Cáceres): closure in November 2027;
- Almaraz II (Extremadura, Cáceres): closure in 2028;
- Ascó I (Catalonia, Tarragona): closure in 2030;
- Cofrentes (Valencian Community, Valencia): closure in 2030;
- Ascó II (Catalonia, Tarragona): closure in 2032;
- Vandellós II (Catalonia, Tarragona): closure in 2035;
- Trillo (Castilla-La Mancha, Guadalajara): closure in 2035.
The three conditions of the Government for any extension
Although the schedule remains in place, the electric companies can still request extensions.
In fact, the owners of Almaraz have already formally submitted a request to keep reactor I operational until 2030.
The Minister for the Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, established three red lines to authorize any extension of nuclear plants in Spain:
- that the radiological safety of citizens is guaranteed;
- that it does not entail additional costs for consumers or taxpayers, and;
- that it is convenient for supply security.
“The right to request an extension is not created by a ministerial order, but by the current regulations,” clarified the Executive after the vote.
Spain: the conflict between costs and the renewable transition
The electric companies argue that operating the nuclear plants beyond 2027 with the current tax burden is economically unviable if the market does not exceed 65-70 euros per megawatt-hour.
The projected prices are around 55 euros, making the operation deficit.
In addition, there is a structural problem: the dismantling fund of Enresa only covers 43% of the real cost, leaving a deficit of 11.6 billion euros unfunded.
The Ministry also questioned the PP’s amendment for unilaterally modifying ministerial orders without consulting the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN).
This is the body responsible for evaluating the safety conditions of the dismantling of nuclear plants in Spain.
“The only thing achieved is creating legal uncertainty,” warned official sources.
The key question: can Spain operate without nuclear plants?
The underlying debate goes beyond politics: Spain seeks to build a 100% renewable system, but the electrical grid still faces significant technical challenges.
Today, the new digital systems that must replace the stability provided by the reactors are in the testing phase.
Meanwhile, regions with industrial growth warn that the electrical infrastructure is at the limit of its capacity.
The vote closed the door to a quick extension, but the energy debate remains open in the technical and economic field, where the future of the Spanish electrical system will ultimately be defined.
