Spain extends operation of Almaraz nuclear power plant
Spain’s left-wing government has extended the operating life of the Almaraz nuclear power plant in western Spain, the country’s largest, until June 8, 2030, according to an official decree published Friday and cited by AFP.
The two reactors at Almaraz began operating in 1989 and were originally scheduled to shut down in 2027 and 2028, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.
The government led by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has committed to phasing out nuclear power by 2035. However, the future of Spain’s largest nuclear plant is viewed very differently by its three owners — Iberdrola, Endesa and Naturgy.
The major power blackout that affected Spain in April 2025, along with the impact of the war in the Middle East on global energy markets, has revived debate over the country’s energy production. The current government is relying heavily on renewable sources such as solar and wind power, AFP notes.
In 2025, a citizens’ group called “Yes to Almaraz, Yes to the Future” was formed to support extending the plant’s operating life. The plant is located in Extremadura, a region affected by population decline. The group welcomed the decree as “excellent news,” while its president, Fernando Sanchez Castilla, said in a statement that “we can finally breathe a sigh of relief and see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Spain’s Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) gave a favorable assessment in July for continued operation of the Almaraz reactors, which accounted for 7% of the country’s electricity generation last year.
The decision to shut down the plant in 2027 had been made back in 2019, but the 2025 blackout prompted industry experts to push for a delay, arguing that otherwise the country’s electricity supply could be put at risk.
In the 1980s, Spain had eight nuclear power plants, which generated 38% of the country’s electricity. Today, five plants remain, with a total of seven reactors, accounting for 19% of electricity production, according to official data.
Renewable energy sources provided almost 60% of Spain’s electricity generation last year, while the government has set a target of increasing that share to 81% by 2030.
Photo: Wikipedia
