Politics · Spain · 12 hrs ago
Feijóo pledges to extend Spain’s nuclear plants’ lives if elected
Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s People’s Party plans to extend the lives of Spain’s nuclear plants if it forms the next government.
Its election programme says it would remove the closure timetable for Almaraz, Ascó, Vandellós, Cofrentes and Trillo, and seek extensions within the first 100 days in office.
The extensions would require approval from Spain’s Nuclear Safety Council, and the party says safety would be guaranteed.
Nuclear power supplied about 19% of Spain’s electricity in 2025, making the plants an important part of the energy mix.
The party argues that closing them could increase reliance on gas, while the current government has said renewable energy would replace nuclear power.
Feijóo also proposes revising Spain’s energy and climate plan and says nuclear, renewable and storage technologies should compete on equal terms.
The programme also promises automatic compensation for customers who lose electricity because of a system failure.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo says he would begin extending the lives of Spain’s nuclear power plants within his first 100 days in government if elected.
The PP’s electoral programme would remove the closure timetable for Almaraz, Ascó, Vandellós, Cofrentes and Trillo, subject to approval by the Nuclear Safety Council.
The programme argues that keeping nuclear power available would help limit reliance on gas and reduce pressure on electricity prices.
Feijóo also proposes revising Spain’s energy and climate plan and says the energy transition should proceed at a realistic pace.
The PP programme also pledges automatic compensation for consumers who lose electricity because of a system failure.
- Who
- Alberto Núñez Feijóo and the PP.
- What
- Feijóo pledges to remove the closure timetable for five nuclear plants and begin processing extensions to their operating lives.
- When
- Within the first 100 days of government, if Feijóo is elected.
- Where
- Spain.
- Why
- The PP says nuclear power can help limit reliance on gas and electricity price increases while supporting a realistic energy transition.
PP
Spanish government under Pedro Sánchez
Nuclear plant closures
PP
The PP proposes removing the closure timetable for five plants and extending their operating lives, subject to safety approval.
Spanish government under Pedro Sánchez
The government has defended replacing nuclear plants with renewable energy.
Energy supply
PP
The PP warns that replacing nuclear power could increase reliance on gas-fired plants and raise electricity prices.
Spanish government under Pedro Sánchez
The government’s stated position is to replace nuclear power with renewable energy.
Energy transition
PP
The PP supports climate action but wants to review the pace of the transition and revise the national energy and climate plan.
Spanish government under Pedro Sánchez
The government updated the plan in 2023 to accelerate the transition, including emissions reductions and renewable energy use.
The government, through Enresa, and the reactor owners agreed a protocol setting out a closure timetable for the plants.
The PSOE government updated the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan to accelerate the energy transition through 2030.
Feijóo says his government would begin processing extensions to the plants’ operating lives.
The PP programme is due to be presented publicly.
- Plants named
- Almaraz, Ascó, Vandellós, Cofrentes and Trillo
- Proposed timing
- First 100 days of government
- Safety approval
- Nuclear Safety Council
- Nuclear share of electricity
- 19% in 2025
- Programme source
- PP electoral programme
What people are saying
Eliminaremos el calendario de cierre de Almaraz, Ascó, Vandellós, Cofrentes y Trillo. En los primeros cien días de Gobierno, tramitaremos la extensión de su vida útil con el visto bueno del Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear, garantizando la seguridad de las instalaciones.
Pondremos freno a la imposición de calendarios imposibles. Defendemos una transición ordenada, realista y justa