Spain has approved a three-year extension for the Almaraz nuclear power plant, delaying its planned closure from 2028 to June 2030 as the country grapples with energy security concerns amid the broader European drought and nuclear crisis.
The decision, announced by the Ministry for Ecological Transition, follows a favorable report from Spain’s Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) in July, which concluded that the two-unit plant meets the conditions to operate safely through 2030. The extension was requested jointly by the plant’s owners: Iberdrola, which holds a 53 percent stake, Endesa at 36 percent, and Naturgy with approximately 11 percent.
Europe’s Drought Reshapes Nuclear Calculus
The decision comes as Europe’s severe drought has forced nuclear plant shutdowns across the continent. Hungary’s Paks plant and Romania’s Cernavoda facility were both taken offline due to record-low water levels on the Danube River, which supplies cooling water to both plants. The crisis has prompted a broader reassessment of nuclear phase-out timelines across the EU.
Almaraz, located in western Spain, contributes approximately 7 percent of the country’s total electricity output. The two reactors have been in commercial operation since 1983 and 1984 respectively, and together produced 15,370 GWh in the most recent reporting year, preventing an estimated 5.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Under Spain’s original nuclear phase-out strategy agreed in 2019, all seven reactors were to be shut by 2035, with Almaraz Unit 1 closing in October 2027 and Unit 2 in October 2028. The extension pushes both units to June 2030, giving Spain additional time to expand renewable capacity and upgrade its energy infrastructure.
Industry Welcomes Decision
ForoNuclear, Spain’s nuclear industry association, welcomed the decision, calling the continued operation of Almaraz essential for maintaining grid stability as renewable energy capacity grows. The plant’s operators have argued that high taxes on nuclear generation reduce competitiveness and discourage investment in maintenance and safety improvements.
The government said it is reviewing fiscal conditions for nuclear plants as part of broader efforts to balance energy security, environmental goals, and financial sustainability. Spain currently gets about 20 percent of its electricity from nuclear power, making it one of the EU’s largest nuclear generators.
The extension reflects a growing trend across Europe, where countries are reconsidering nuclear phase-out plans in light of the energy crisis triggered by the Strait of Hormuz disruptions and the broader impact of the Iran conflict on global energy markets.
Sources: World Nuclear News; Iberdrola; Reuters
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