Spain might reconsider the shutdown of its nuclear power plants (NPPs) over the next decade. This was reported by Bloomberg, citing an interview with Spain’s Environmental Transition Minister Sara Aagesen.
“Nuclear energy will be present in our mix at least until 2035,” she said on the eve of the IEA summit on the future of energy security. This plan has not yet been agreed upon with NPP operators, who will have to make concrete proposals, Aagesen added.
The possible reconsideration is caused by, among other things, domestic policy. Spain’s center-right opposition leaders have demanded a revision of the nuclear phase-out plan adopted in 2019, offering support for measures to mitigate the effects of U.S. tariffs in exchange.
The country’s plan to shut down seven nuclear reactors, which currently account for some 20% of Spain’s power output, was agreed upon with major energy producers and suppliers, such as Iberdrola, Endesa, Naturgy Energy Group and EDP. The companies have since reconsidered and are now calling for a delay in phasing out nuclear power.
Recent years have seen a genuine renaissance of nuclear energy around the world. Since 2023, as many as 31 countries have announced plans to build new NPPs. A total of 28 new reactors are under construction in China alone. Canada, the UK and the US are planning to launch new state-of-the-art reactors by the end of this decade. Belgium has postponed the shutdown of its two newest NPPs until 2035.
