Conservative Leaders Challenge Spain's Nuclear Power Phase-Out
The governors of Madrid and Extremadura seek to delay the closure of Spain's most powerful nuclear plant, the Almaraz facility.
The impending closure of all nuclear power plants in Spain by 2035 has sparked significant debate, particularly among conservative leaders in the country.
On February 25, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the president of Madrid, and Maria Guardiola, the president of Extremadura, initiated a collective action aimed at prompting the government of socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to postpone the shutdown date of the Almaraz nuclear power plant.
Almaraz, located in the province of Caceres in Extremadura, is the largest nuclear facility in Spain, contributing approximately 7% of the nation's electricity and 15% of the electricity consumed in Madrid.
The facility is scheduled to deactivate its first reactor in 2027 and its second reactor in 2028, according to plans established in 2019 under a left-leaning government.
In statements made on Tuesday, Ayuso expressed concern that the closure could result in "irreversible damage" to Spain, citing the lack of necessary technological infrastructure and readiness to replace nuclear energy supplies.
She characterized the planned shutdown as a decision that "compromises national security." Guardiola, who visited the Almaraz facility, echoed these sentiments, asserting that Spain cannot afford a nuclear cutoff and a closure rooted in ideology.
Both leaders are affiliated with the People's Party (PP), a major conservative political group in Spain.
The Almaraz facility, which began operation in 1973, is co-owned by several energy companies, including Iberdrola, Naturgy, and Endesa.
As the deadline approaches for the nuclear phase-out, this alliance among the regional leaders highlights the growing tensions surrounding energy policy in Spain.
On February 25, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the president of Madrid, and Maria Guardiola, the president of Extremadura, initiated a collective action aimed at prompting the government of socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to postpone the shutdown date of the Almaraz nuclear power plant.
Almaraz, located in the province of Caceres in Extremadura, is the largest nuclear facility in Spain, contributing approximately 7% of the nation's electricity and 15% of the electricity consumed in Madrid.
The facility is scheduled to deactivate its first reactor in 2027 and its second reactor in 2028, according to plans established in 2019 under a left-leaning government.
In statements made on Tuesday, Ayuso expressed concern that the closure could result in "irreversible damage" to Spain, citing the lack of necessary technological infrastructure and readiness to replace nuclear energy supplies.
She characterized the planned shutdown as a decision that "compromises national security." Guardiola, who visited the Almaraz facility, echoed these sentiments, asserting that Spain cannot afford a nuclear cutoff and a closure rooted in ideology.
Both leaders are affiliated with the People's Party (PP), a major conservative political group in Spain.
The Almaraz facility, which began operation in 1973, is co-owned by several energy companies, including Iberdrola, Naturgy, and Endesa.
As the deadline approaches for the nuclear phase-out, this alliance among the regional leaders highlights the growing tensions surrounding energy policy in Spain.
