Catalan mayors eye longer reactor lives after Spain extends Almaraz nuclear plant

The mayors of two Catalan towns that host nuclear plants have welcomed Spain's decision to extend the operation of the Almaraz nuclear power plant in Cáceres, Extremadura, until June 2030.

The mayor of Vandellòs i l’Hospitalet de l’Infant in Baix Camp, Assumpció Castellví, and the mayor of Ascó in Ribera d'Ebre, Miquel Àngel Ribes, said the extension of the Almaraz plant could pave the way for a similar decision on the reactors in their municipalities.

Under the current timetable, Ascó I is due to close in 2030, Ascó II in 2032 and Vandellòs II in 2035.

"Decommissioning a nuclear plant requires infrastructure, equipment and technical staff; they cannot all be shut down at the same time," Castellví said.

"It was harder for them to decommission than to extend," she added.

Both mayors argued that Catalonia remains dependent on nuclear power and that renewable generation is currently insufficient to meet electricity demand.

Ribes said that "the country’s energy sovereignty" and the "need to continue reducing CO2 for the environment" make it necessary to keep Catalonia's plants operating.

2035 deadline remains

The Spanish government said the Almaraz extension applies only to the plant and does not alter its plan to shut down all nuclear power by 2035. The decision follows a favourable report from Spain’s Nuclear Safety Council in July.

The extension has exposed divisions within Spain's governing coalition.

Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun of Sumar called it a "concession" by the Socialists to the "energy oligopoly" and an infringement of the coalition agreement. He warned that it could set a precedent for delaying the wider nuclear shutdown timetable.

Greenpeace opposition

Greenpeace has described the Spanish government's decision to extend the operating life of the Almaraz nuclear power plant in Extremadura as a "historic mistake."

Greenpeace also warned that extending Almaraz would increase electricity costs, citing a technical report by King Juan Carlos University that estimates the plant's extended operation would add a cumulative €3.83 billion to electricity bills for households and businesses by 2033.

Podcast

Watch or listen to the podcast below, recorded in May 2026, to learn more about Catalonia's energy crossroads.

As well as the green energy transition and the climate crisis, geopolitical tensions and energy sovereignty are also shaping the debate.

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