Atomkraft: Spanien verlängert Laufzeit von AKW Almaraz bis 2030

Madrid - The Spanish government has extended the operational lifespan of the Almaraz nuclear power plant in the western part of the country until June 8, 2030. This decision will push back the planned decommissioning of the two reactor blocks by up to two and a half years, from the end of 2027 and 2028, according to the Ministry for Ecological Transition in Madrid.

The extension applies exclusively to the facility in the Extremadura region, and does not affect Spain's complete nuclear phase-out by 2035, which involves the gradual shutdown of five nuclear power plants with a total of seven reactors, the ministry clarified. The leftist government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez justified its decision by citing the strained situation on international energy markets and the need to ensure energy supply security.

At the same time, it emphasized that the measure should not result in additional costs for consumers or significantly hinder the expansion of renewable energy sources. The operators Iberdrola, Endesa, and Naturgy submitted the extension request in autumn 2025, following a positive assessment by the Nuclear Safety Authority CSN. Almaraz is the first nuclear power plant on Spain's phase-out schedule, generating nearly seven percent of the country's electricity consumption and employing around 4,000 people in the economically disadvantaged Extremadura region.