Spain pushes Almaraz nuclear plant closure to 2030, extending operation by three years — The Debate
Madrid delays the planned shutdown of the Extremadura facility, citing safety clearance and European energy security concerns.
Spain's government has approved keeping the Almaraz nuclear power plant open until 8 June 2030, pushing back the planned shutdown of its two reactors by three years. The decision was published in the Official State Gazette via a ministerial order from the Ministry for Ecological Transition.
The move arrives amid growing calls from the European Parliament for Spain to reconsider its nuclear phase‑out schedule. In February 2026 a delegation of ten MEPs led by Bogdan Rzońca, chair of the Parliament's Petitions Committee, visited Almaraz after a petition signed by workers, local councils and farmers opposed the closure. The committee's May 2026 report urged the government to reverse the timetable, arguing that the decision was driven by "purely political and ideological reasons" and warning of serious economic and energy impacts for the region and for Spain's power system.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has repeatedly defended keeping operating nuclear plants online as part of the bloc's energy security strategy. The report's emphasis on rigorous, transparent assessments aligns with the EU's broader debate on whether nuclear generation should count towards 2030 climate targets, a discussion that could shape subsidy rules for member states.
The extension was welcomed by the citizens' platform Yes to Almaraz, Yes to the Future, which unites municipalities, businesses and trade unions in the Cáceres area. Its president, Fernando Sánchez, mayor of Belvís de Monroy, said the decision restores confidence to thousands of families who have lived in uncertainty.
The plant supplies roughly 7% of national electricity and supports around 4,000 direct and indirect jobs, according to Elena Nevado, an MEP from the European People's Party. The favourable safety assessment from the Nuclear Safety Council on 16 July confirmed that Almaraz meets all technical conditions to operate until 2030, removing the main regulatory obstacle to the extension.
Spain's decision may influence other EU members, such as France and the Czech Republic, that are also reviewing the lifespan of their reactors. With the bloc seeking greater energy independence after the 2025 Iberian blackout, the Almaraz case underscores the tension between decarbonisation ambitions and the need for reliable baseload power.