Centrales Nucleares Almaraz-Trillo (CNAT) announced it has submitted a request to Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge to amend the operating licence for units I and II of the Almaraz nuclear power plant. This move, approved during an extraordinary meeting of the board of directors and shareholders, aims to extend the operation of both units until June 2030, instead of their initially scheduled shutdown in 2027.
A strategy out of step with the 2019 roadmap
The Almaraz plant, located in the province of Cáceres, is one of seven reactors currently operating in Spain, which together supply approximately 20% of the country’s electricity. The decommissioning schedule set in 2019 planned for a gradual shutdown of the fleet between 2027 and 2035. Units I and II at Almaraz, commissioned in 1983 and 1984 respectively, are among the four reactors due to be shut down by the end of the decade.
The official request comes amid increasing scrutiny of this plan. In February, a manifesto signed by 32 companies in the sector, including Framatome, GE Vernova and Westinghouse, called for a reopening of discussions around the 2019 agreement. The document highlighted the changing industrial and geopolitical context and pointed to the role of nuclear energy in ensuring the stability of the power system.
Industrial pressure and regulatory framework
According to CNAT, the Almaraz plant continues to meet the requirements set out in the Periodic Safety Review approved by the Nuclear Safety Council (Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear, CSN) in 2020. The company stated that an annual investment of EUR50 million ($58 million) is allocated for the modernisation of the facilities. It also noted that the plant currently employs around 4,000 people and supplies power to more than 4 million households.
The sector’s core argument centres on industrial competitiveness. The February manifesto stressed that the early withdrawal of nuclear power could undermine the resilience of Spain’s energy mix. It also called for a review of the applicable tax framework, deemed too burdensome to ensure the economic viability of the plants.
Growing political support
That same month, the Spanish Congress of Deputies approved a proposal from the People’s Party in favour of reversing the nuclear phase-out plan. The motion passed with 171 votes in favour, 164 against and 14 abstentions. Although non-binding, the decision has reinforced calls for an adjustment to the national energy strategy.
CNAT’s shareholders – Iberdrola (53%), Endesa (36%) and Naturgy (11%) – have not publicly commented on the extension request. The Almaraz plant shares technical characteristics with the North Anna nuclear power plant in the United States, which recently received approval for extended operations of up to 80 years.
