In 2019 the government reached an agreement with the leading electricity companies to phase out all nuclear power plants in the country, aiming for a gradual shutdown rather than a sudden blackout. The pact with Endesa, Iberdrola, Naturgy and EDP envisions closing facilities in a staged timeline, starting in 2027 and concluding in 2035.
Opposition parties including the Partido Popular, Vox and Ciudadanos have urged revisiting the schedule to extend deadlines amid the energy crisis. The management remains firm on keeping the originally agreed dates, asserting that none of the utilities has signaled a willingness to delay or to alter the plan as a means to address emergency conditions caused by past crises.
Thus far the government has not faced a direct clash with the presidency over extending reactor lifespans. Industry voices acknowledge there are no technical barriers preventing operation beyond planned dates, but warn that any extension would depend on guaranteed profitability, a stable wage framework or reduced taxes that justify continuing operations.
The executive branch has put forward a proposal to reform the European wholesale electricity market, moving away from a system that fixes daily prices for gas and coal plants. Nuclear, hydro and renewable energy projects would be covered by fixed price agreements for longer periods. The Commission is considering its own market reform to curb price volatility, while the national government pushes for a swift agreement with Brussels within the year or early next year.
As talks continue, nuclear companies warn that the timing for decisions on any review of the closure schedule is not open-ended. If a delay is contemplated for the first closures, the decision cannot be postponed indefinitely and should be made within the current year or next year at the latest.
There is a clear urgency to decide this year or the next, particularly regarding Almaraz I, scheduled to close in 2027. Nuclear owners and the government will need to review the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan and determine which generation technologies will be used by 2030. The industry is pressing the current administration and the next government elected in 2030 to set a decisive path before the end of the year.
The Nuclear Forum representing plant owners and the Nuclear Safety Council emphasize that planning investments and securing the necessary resources for extending operating permits requires a multi-year horizon. They stress that avoiding the first reactor shutdown in 2027 demands a decision no later than the coming year.
As Ignacio Araluce, president of Foro Nuclear, explained in an interview, nuclear fuel stockpiling, long-term supplier contracts, and a defined workforce strategy are essential. He noted that decisions about extending operations for plants like Almaraz must be made well in advance, typically about three years ahead, and that pushing for a continuation beyond 2027 would require timely action in the near future.
The Nuclear Safety Council, the independent regulator overseeing safety, confirms that obtaining a new operating permit typically requires two to three years. Any change to the permit schedule would require a formal regulatory review, with a comprehensive analysis taking several years. The council stresses that extending the permit would not be feasible without substantial lead time.
Both CSN and the utilities view the agreed closure schedule with the government as a roadmap for planning future operations and investments. The plan outlines a gradual shutdown of seven Spanish reactors: Almaraz I in 2027, Almaraz II in 2028, Ascó I in 2030, Cofrentes in 2030, Ascó II in 2032, Vandellós II in 2035, and Trillo in 2035.
Following the radioactive purification phase, which is projected to require about a decade, dismantling work will begin anew on many sites. Authorities anticipate that the sites will become valuable and adaptable for other industrial or energy uses such as new renewable energy facilities. The confluence of high voltage grid connections and substations will be marked for potential reuse to support future renewables projects.