Electric Companies Set 15-Day Deadline for Almaraz Nuclear Plant Decision
Sara Aagesen announces that Iberdrola, Endesa, and Naturgy will decide the future of Almaraz Nuclear Power Plant by early June.
On May 20, 2025, Sara Aagesen, Spain's Third Vice President and Minister for Ecological Transition, confirmed that the electric companies Iberdrola, Endesa, and Naturgy have given themselves a 15-day timeframe to determine the future of the Almaraz Nuclear Power Plant.
The decision, originally planned for the same day, has been postponed to early June.
The Almaraz plant operates two reactors, with Almaraz I being the first of seven remaining operational reactors in Spain.
According to a schedule negotiated between the electric companies and the government in 2019, this reactor is set to be decommissioned by November 2027.
"The closure of the nuclear fleet relates to a decision made by the companies.
Today they announced that they will meet in 15 days to make a decision," Aagesen stated.
She emphasized that the government under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez does not demonize nuclear energy, as evidenced by the government's extension of the operational lifespan of nuclear facilities by an average of 5.8 years.
Aagesen noted that her government has not closed any nuclear facilities, in contrast to previous administrations.
The vice president reiterated that the government is open to studying proposals from energy companies for extending the life of nuclear plants, provided these extensions do not incur additional costs to consumers and are conducted safely.
"The most important principle is that nuclear plants operate with complete safety, which is the role of the Nuclear Safety Council," she reminded the public.
Aagesen's statements come in light of the financial strain experienced by the Almaraz plant.
In a single year, the facility paid taxes totaling 435 million euros, exceeding its total operational costs.
Regarding the blackout that occurred on April 28, Aagesen clarified during a press conference on May 15 that a cyberattack has been ruled out as a cause.
The government is focusing on power fluctuations observed in the European electricity system approximately 30 minutes prior to the blackout to ascertain if they contributed to the incident.
Aagesen emphasized that understanding the blackout would require thorough analysis, stating, "The investigation must go much further than attributing blame to one source of generation; it is an analysis that cannot be summarized in one sentence."
She urged for patience in determining the factors involved, expressing the need for comprehensive investigation beyond simple conclusions.
The decision, originally planned for the same day, has been postponed to early June.
The Almaraz plant operates two reactors, with Almaraz I being the first of seven remaining operational reactors in Spain.
According to a schedule negotiated between the electric companies and the government in 2019, this reactor is set to be decommissioned by November 2027.
"The closure of the nuclear fleet relates to a decision made by the companies.
Today they announced that they will meet in 15 days to make a decision," Aagesen stated.
She emphasized that the government under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez does not demonize nuclear energy, as evidenced by the government's extension of the operational lifespan of nuclear facilities by an average of 5.8 years.
Aagesen noted that her government has not closed any nuclear facilities, in contrast to previous administrations.
The vice president reiterated that the government is open to studying proposals from energy companies for extending the life of nuclear plants, provided these extensions do not incur additional costs to consumers and are conducted safely.
"The most important principle is that nuclear plants operate with complete safety, which is the role of the Nuclear Safety Council," she reminded the public.
Aagesen's statements come in light of the financial strain experienced by the Almaraz plant.
In a single year, the facility paid taxes totaling 435 million euros, exceeding its total operational costs.
Regarding the blackout that occurred on April 28, Aagesen clarified during a press conference on May 15 that a cyberattack has been ruled out as a cause.
The government is focusing on power fluctuations observed in the European electricity system approximately 30 minutes prior to the blackout to ascertain if they contributed to the incident.
Aagesen emphasized that understanding the blackout would require thorough analysis, stating, "The investigation must go much further than attributing blame to one source of generation; it is an analysis that cannot be summarized in one sentence."
She urged for patience in determining the factors involved, expressing the need for comprehensive investigation beyond simple conclusions.
Translation:
Translated by AI
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