Spain extends nuclear plant license to 2030, reversing phase-out plan

The Spanish government has extended the operating license for the Almaraz nuclear power plant, the country's largest, until June 8, 2030. This decision, published in the Official State Gazette, marks a significant shift from the previous socialist administration's strategy to phase out nuclear energy by 2035 and prioritize renewables.

The future of the Almaraz reactors, inaugurated in the Extremadura region in the early 1980s and originally slated for closure in 2027 and 2028, had been a point of contention between the plant's owners, Iberdrola, Endesa, and Naturgy, and the Spanish government. The debate over Spain's energy mix was reshaped by a widespread power outage on April 28, 2025, which left the Iberian Peninsula without electricity for extended periods, and by the recent surge in international oil and gas prices due to the war in Iran.

The citizen collective "Sí a Almaraz, Sí al Futuro" (Yes to Almaraz, Yes to the Future), formed in early 2025 to advocate for the plant's extension, celebrated the decision as "great news" that "guarantees employment, economic activity, and the future of the region." The association's president, Fernando Sánchez, expressed relief, stating, "We can finally breathe easy and see the light at the end of the tunnel."

Conversely, the environmental NGO Greenpeace expressed outrage, denouncing the move as a "historic mistake" by the socialist government. The radical left party Sumar also criticized the decision, accusing the executive of "mortgaging the country's energy and economic future" to prolong the life of "obsolete infrastructure."

In mid-July, Spain's Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) had already supported the extension of Almaraz's operation, which accounted for 7% of Spain's electricity production last year. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reportedly set conditions, including guarantees that the extension would not cost taxpayers. The original closure of Almaraz was decided in 2019, but industry professionals have pushed for delays since the 2025 blackout, citing risks to electricity supply security. Spain, which once had eight nuclear power plants, now operates five with seven reactors, contributing 19% to its electricity mix in 2025, while renewables provided about 60%. The government aims to increase renewables' share to 81% by 2030.