The Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) had previously considered that one of its reactors could operate with safety guarantees for an additional two to three years. Initially, one reactor was scheduled to close in November 2027, followed by the second in 2028. The new date aligns with the planned closure of the Ascó and Cofrentes plants.
This extension is part of a 2019 agreement to gradually shut down all state reactors between 2027 and 2035. However, Sumar has rejected the extension, accusing the PSOE of breaking coalition government agreements and attributing the park's maintenance to "corporate pressures".
The Spanish government has specified that the decision only affects Almaraz and that the rest of the closure schedule remains unchanged. Nevertheless, the measure has reignited the debate on the future of nuclear power plants, focusing attention on Catalan facilities. Employers' associations like Foment have already requested a similar extension for Ascó and Vandellòs.
The mayors of Ascó, Miquel Àngel Ribes, and of Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant, Assumpció Castellví, have welcomed the news. Ribes considers it "unviable" to dismantle five reactors between 2030 and 2032 and seven before 2035, arguing that "the same reasons that have served for Almaraz must serve for here." Castellví adds that if a plant is safe and society is not ready for renewables, nuclear power should be extended.
From Ecologists in Action, their coordinator, Eloi Nolla, views the decision as a step backward that "shakes the calendar" and expresses concern about a potential PP and Vox government that could end the initial agreement. The organization points out that the continuity of Catalan plants is "incompatible with the perception of transition funds" that municipalities receive as compensation.
The wars in Ukraine and Iran have highlighted the dependence on fossil fuels and strained energy supply. Faced with this volatile scenario, the Ministry for Ecological Transition believes that the temporary extension of Almaraz is the best way to protect individuals and businesses from price spikes. The Spanish government had established three red lines for the plant's continuity: no extra cost for consumers, safety criteria, and the CSN's approval.
The government insists on its commitment to renewable energies, such as wind and photovoltaic power, which have allowed Spain to avoid the electricity price increases experienced in the rest of Europe.
