Spain’s decision to extend the Almaraz nuclear plant’s operation to 2028+10 years locks in a key baseload source amid Europe’s energy transition
Executive summary: The Spanish government decided to grant a further operating licence for the Almaraz nuclear plant, allowing it to run until 2038, with the formal extension request to be submitted in 2028. The extension preserves a major source of low‑carbon baseload electricity for Spain, affecting wholesale market prices, investment decisions in the energy sector, and the country’s compliance with EU climate targets.
Who is involved: Key actors include the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition, the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), the plant’s owners (Endesa and Naturgy), and EU state‑aid authorities.
Likely next: In mid‑2028 the owners will file a formal 10‑year extension application; the CSN will conduct a safety review in early 2028, and the EU Commission will assess state‑aid compatibility by late 2027.
The Spanish government has approved a plan that allows the Almaraz nuclear facility to continue operating until 2038, with the final go‑ahead scheduled for 2028 when the plant’s owners will request another decade of service. Owners said the timing was expected, but the exact date came as a surprise. The move secures roughly 2,000 MW of baseload capacity, influencing wholesale power prices and signalling policy stability for nuclear investors.
Timeline
- — Almaraz, ¿una prórroga vergonzante? (El País — Economía)
- — Amancio Ortega sale de la lusa REN y mantiene otros 3.560 millones invertidos en sectores estratégicos (El País — Economía)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) will review the Almaraz extension request by Q1 2028
- Owners of Almaraz and Cofrentes will submit formal 10‑year extension applications to the government in mid‑2028
- Spanish government may hold a public consultation on nuclear policy by September 2026
- EU State Aid Directorate may assess compliance of the extension with internal market rules by late 2027
Sectors affected
- nuclear power generation
- wholesale electricity market in Spain
- regulated gas‑electricity utilities (Portugal)
Regulatory implications
- Spanish Nuclear Safety Council must issue a safety‑extension licence under Royal Decree‑Law 1/2025
- EU Commission will verify that the extension does not constitute illegal state aid under Treaty Article 107
- Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition will update the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) to reflect a 2038 nuclear horizon
Historical parallels
- Spain’s 2011 moratorium on new nuclear builds after the Fukushima Daiichi accident
- France’s 2022 decision to extend the operating life of 900 MW reactors to 2035
- Germany’s 2015 decision to phase out nuclear by 2022 (later partially reversed)
Sources
- Almaraz, ¿una prórroga vergonzante? — El País — Economía
- Amancio Ortega sale de la lusa REN y mantiene otros 3.560 millones invertidos en sectores estratégicos — El País — Economía
Related cases
- Spanish utilities are gearing up for a fiscal showdown over nuclear tax cuts worth €1.5 billion after the government extended the Almaraz plant’s operation to 2030
- Spain's decision to extend the Almaraz nuclear plant's operation is portrayed as a political move lacking transparent data, raising concerns over energy policy accountability
- Neighbors of Almaraz vow to fight further extensions of the nuclear plant, highlighting its 4,000 local jobs and community impact
- Spain considers a cautious moratorium on the Almaraz nuclear plant amid energy price volatility
- Environmental groups and renewables sector question Spain's nuclear phase-out timeline after Almaraz extension to 2030
- Spain’s extension of the Almaraz nuclear plant to 2030 shifts the closure decision to the next government, breaking the PSOE‑Sumar pact and pleasing regional stakeholders