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Released February 24, 2025 | GALWAY, IRELAND
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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Spain's parliament has approved a proposal calling on the government to reverse plans to phase out nuclear power by 2035.
In a hotly contested vote, the proposal by the right-wing People's Party in the lower house to halt the shut down of nuclear power facilities was passed by 171 votes in favour, 164 against and 14 abstentions. Spain relies on nuclear power for 20% of its electricity from seven reactors: Almaraz I and II, Ascó I and II, Cofrentes, Trillo and Vandellós II. According to World Nuclear News, the agreed plan in 2019 was to shut four reactors by the end of 2030, with the remaining three reactors to be taken offline by 2035.
"The proposal voted in Congress calls for extending the operational life of nuclear power plants in Spain and improving their safety," the proposal read, urging the government to: "Extend the operational life of existing nuclear power plants in Spain, in accordance with European regulations, the guidance of the Nuclear Safety Council, and plant operators, while considering technical and economic criteria."
Commenting on the proposal, the People's Party--which controls the lower house--stated: "Spain is the only country in the world that has refused to maintain its nuclear fleet and extend its useful life under energy security criteria. In recent years, there has been a notable change in the perception of nuclear energy. The European Commission has recognised nuclear energy in its taxonomy of sustainable investments, underlining its importance in the transition towards a carbon-free economy. This is also established in the so-called Draghi report ("The future of European competitiveness"), where it is described as an essential component of the energy system, while being seen as key to lowering energy prices and advancing the shift to cleaner power sources. Keeping nuclear power plants operational contributes to Spain's energy autonomy, reduces dependence on external energy sources and, therefore, vulnerability to fluctuations in the international market."
The document also outlined the impact of the potential closures: "The Spanish nuclear industry as a whole is a source of employment for some 28,500 people--more than 8,500 of them directly--and has a significant impact both on the Gross Domestic Product, to which it contributed 3.7 billion (US$3.9 billion) euros in 2023." It added: "This would imply the loss of between 50% and 70% of the income for the municipalities that host the seven facilities."
Spain is not alone in seeking to change its previous stance on nuclear power, with Italy looking to reintroduce nuclear power and Belgium extending the life of its plants. In recent weeks, Italy's Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin told Italian paper, Il Sole 24 Ore that the government will finalise a plan by the end of 2027 to bring nuclear power back to the country, almost 40 years after it was banned. "Italy is ready to return to nuclear power, a crucial choice that will not replace renewables but will complement them, ensuring a balanced and sustainable energy mix," he said. A first draft of the law is expected to be tabled in the coming weeks. Italy was a pioneer of nuclear power in Europe in the 1960s but closed its last reactors in 1990 following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
In recent weeks, Belgium's new coalition government wants to reverse the country's agreed phase-out policy from 2021 and push for new nuclear power plants. The coalition wants to extend the lives of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 units by an additional 10 years, on top of the the 10-year extension they received last year. For additional information, see January 11, 2024, article - Belgium Extends Life for Two Nuclear Reactors . The coalition party, Les Engagés, stated: "In terms of energy, the agreement provides for the development of a long-term strategy ensuring an affordable, safe and carbon-neutral energy mix composed of renewables, nuclear energy and other forms of carbon-neutral energy, which guarantees security of supply, affordability for citizens and businesses, and sustainability. It will also involve lifting the ban on the construction of new nuclear capacities in the very short term and taking all necessary measures to extend the life of units that meet safety standards. Specifically with regard to Doel 4 and Tihange 3, the agreement aims to extend their lifetime by at least 10 additional years in addition to the 10 years already agreed." Belgium has five operating reactors--Tinhange 1 & 3 and Doel 1, 2 & 4--that supply roughly half of its electricity.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
In a hotly contested vote, the proposal by the right-wing People's Party in the lower house to halt the shut down of nuclear power facilities was passed by 171 votes in favour, 164 against and 14 abstentions. Spain relies on nuclear power for 20% of its electricity from seven reactors: Almaraz I and II, Ascó I and II, Cofrentes, Trillo and Vandellós II. According to World Nuclear News, the agreed plan in 2019 was to shut four reactors by the end of 2030, with the remaining three reactors to be taken offline by 2035.
"The proposal voted in Congress calls for extending the operational life of nuclear power plants in Spain and improving their safety," the proposal read, urging the government to: "Extend the operational life of existing nuclear power plants in Spain, in accordance with European regulations, the guidance of the Nuclear Safety Council, and plant operators, while considering technical and economic criteria."
Commenting on the proposal, the People's Party--which controls the lower house--stated: "Spain is the only country in the world that has refused to maintain its nuclear fleet and extend its useful life under energy security criteria. In recent years, there has been a notable change in the perception of nuclear energy. The European Commission has recognised nuclear energy in its taxonomy of sustainable investments, underlining its importance in the transition towards a carbon-free economy. This is also established in the so-called Draghi report ("The future of European competitiveness"), where it is described as an essential component of the energy system, while being seen as key to lowering energy prices and advancing the shift to cleaner power sources. Keeping nuclear power plants operational contributes to Spain's energy autonomy, reduces dependence on external energy sources and, therefore, vulnerability to fluctuations in the international market."
The document also outlined the impact of the potential closures: "The Spanish nuclear industry as a whole is a source of employment for some 28,500 people--more than 8,500 of them directly--and has a significant impact both on the Gross Domestic Product, to which it contributed 3.7 billion (US$3.9 billion) euros in 2023." It added: "This would imply the loss of between 50% and 70% of the income for the municipalities that host the seven facilities."
Spain is not alone in seeking to change its previous stance on nuclear power, with Italy looking to reintroduce nuclear power and Belgium extending the life of its plants. In recent weeks, Italy's Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin told Italian paper, Il Sole 24 Ore that the government will finalise a plan by the end of 2027 to bring nuclear power back to the country, almost 40 years after it was banned. "Italy is ready to return to nuclear power, a crucial choice that will not replace renewables but will complement them, ensuring a balanced and sustainable energy mix," he said. A first draft of the law is expected to be tabled in the coming weeks. Italy was a pioneer of nuclear power in Europe in the 1960s but closed its last reactors in 1990 following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
In recent weeks, Belgium's new coalition government wants to reverse the country's agreed phase-out policy from 2021 and push for new nuclear power plants. The coalition wants to extend the lives of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 units by an additional 10 years, on top of the the 10-year extension they received last year. For additional information, see January 11, 2024, article - Belgium Extends Life for Two Nuclear Reactors . The coalition party, Les Engagés, stated: "In terms of energy, the agreement provides for the development of a long-term strategy ensuring an affordable, safe and carbon-neutral energy mix composed of renewables, nuclear energy and other forms of carbon-neutral energy, which guarantees security of supply, affordability for citizens and businesses, and sustainability. It will also involve lifting the ban on the construction of new nuclear capacities in the very short term and taking all necessary measures to extend the life of units that meet safety standards. Specifically with regard to Doel 4 and Tihange 3, the agreement aims to extend their lifetime by at least 10 additional years in addition to the 10 years already agreed." Belgium has five operating reactors--Tinhange 1 & 3 and Doel 1, 2 & 4--that supply roughly half of its electricity.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
