The debate on whether or not the Spanish nuclear power plants can stop the closure schedule planned for 2027-2035 and even extend their activity beyond those dates does not currently go beyond "politicians' proposals", explained yesterday Ignacio Araluce, president of the Nuclear Forum, the nuclear employers' association in Spain. In a meeting with journalists, Araluce pointed out that these politicians "see that the extension of the useful life of nuclear plants is being addressed in most European countries and that technically it has already been proven in places like the US that it is possible".
As explained by the manager, no company that owns a nuclear plant in Spain is considering or defending the extension of the useful life of nuclear power plants in Spain. "That would only be possible if the government in power at that time was capable of ensuring sufficient profitability to cover the costs and investments required for each plant during the time that its activity was expanded," warned Araluce. A nuance that, he assured, is not contemplated by any of the political groups that in recent months have been defending the measure.
Araluce recalled that the current legal framework for nuclear power plants has led to losses on several occasions (not in 2022). “We are the only sector that pays taxes, 40% for each MWh produced, whether we sell it or not. The system like this cannot continue."
