Spain's Oldest Nuclear Plant to Stay Open

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) -- The Spanish government has reversed a ruling to close the Garona nuclear power plant by next summer.

The decision paves the way for the Garona plant, the oldest nuclear power plant in Spain, to have its operational life extended to 2019. The government cited the plant's low-carbon power production and economic contribution as key factors in its decision to overturn the previous government's ruling.

Plant owner, Nuclenor - a joint venture between Endesa SA (MCE:ELE) (Madrid, Spain) and Iberdrola SA (MCE:IBE) (Bilbao, Spain) - has been seeking a 10-year extension for Garona since 2009 and welcomed the government's decision.

Garona, located in northern Spain, has a generating capacity of 466-megawatts (MW) and provides approximately 1.4% of the country's electricity. It was first commissioned in 1971. Spain relies on nuclear power for approximately 20% of its electricity. In February, Spain's nuclear regulator, the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), announced that Garona was safe to operate beyond 2013, the original date given for its decommissioning by the previous socialist government. For additional information see February 27, 2012, article - Spain's Garona Nuclear Plant Cleared for Extension.

"Given [Spain's] high level of energy dependence from outside Spain, the Spanish energy supply must be based on diversifying its sources of supply, using all that are available," the government ruling stated. "Nuclear contributes significantly to this diversification, as well as reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. In 2011, nuclear covered 20% of electricity demand in Spain."

It added: "Nuclear power, including the nuclear power plant in Santa Maria de Garona, produces so-called base load electricity, like that from traditional power plants and large hydro, which contributes to the stability of the grid. Additionally, as compared to fossil fuels, the cost of nuclear fuel has a substantially lower impact on the cost per kilowatt hour (KWh) of electricity generated and is more stable. There is currently uncertainty over the price of fossil fuels and this is expected to continue."

The decision was welcomed by the Spanish nuclear trade body, Foro Nuclear.

"The decision to allow Santa María de Garoña to continue its operation in safe conditions is in line with the guidelines contained in the Government's energy policy, and therefore its operation must be a priority to all," said Maria Teresa Dominguez, president of Foro Nuclear.

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