The Government has authorized that the two reactors at the Almaraz nuclear power plant, in Cáceres, continue operating until June 8, 2030, a limited extension that changes the previously scheduled shutdown dates for 2027 and 2028. The decision comes after a favorable, conditional report from the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) and in a context marked by international uncertainty and the risk of new fluctuations in gas prices.
The key points of the Almaraz extension in 20 seconds
- Almaraz I and II can operate until June 8, 2030.
- The extension adds 31 months for Unit I and 19 months for Unit II.
- The CSN has issued a favorable report, albeit with safety conditions.
- The Government links the decision to international energy uncertainty and the risk of high gas prices.
- The official schedule still maintains the complete shutdown of Spain’s nuclear park by 2035, for now.
This measure is documented in Order TED/864/2026, dated August 12, published in the Official State Gazette (BOE). The previous authorization allowed Almaraz I to operate until November 1, 2027, and Almaraz II until October 31, 2028. The license holder, Almaraz-Trillo Nuclear Power Plants (CNAT), requested in October 2025 to extend both units until June 2030.
The new deadline was not chosen at random. The facility’s Periodic Safety Review (PSR) is valid precisely until June 8, 2030, a detail included in the ministerial order itself.
CSN approves continuation of Almaraz operation
The continued operation of a nuclear plant depends on more than just energy policy. It requires the mandatory report of the Nuclear Safety Council, responsible for assessing nuclear safety and radiological protection conditions.
On July 16, the regulator issued a favorable report, with conditions, for both Almaraz units. The decision was based on a technical evaluation of the submitted documentation and ongoing oversight during the current operational period. According to the CSN, the plant maintains an adequate safety level to continue operating during the requested period.
This was no minor review. The authority explains that its opinion was based on 29 documents prepared by 16 specialized teams. Almaraz I began commercial operation in 1981, and Almaraz II in 1983, meaning both units will easily surpass four decades of operation during this new phase.
Prolonging the life of such an old plant requires maintaining the technical conditions set by the regulator. In fact, the favorable CSN report is conditional on operating within the limits and requirements specified in the authorization.
This point is especially relevant because the debate about nuclear continuity involves two different layers. The first is political and energy-related, concerning whether to keep these facilities within the power system. The second is technical: a plant can only continue operating if the regulator deems it safe to do so.
Gas market uncertainty alters the energy landscape
The Government presents the extension as a limited measure tied to energy circumstances that have changed since the original shutdown dates were set.
The Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO) explicitly mentions the uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict and the ongoing war in Ukraine, especially regarding their potential effects on international gas markets.
The main aim is to temporarily reduce Spanish electricity system exposure to possible spikes in imported fossil fuel prices.
This does not constitute a declared shift in Spain’s renewable energy strategy. The ministry advocates that the Almaraz extension should coexist with the deployment of renewables and energy storage, which are seen as structural solutions to reduce external energy dependence.
The decision, however, highlights the challenge of managing an energy transition that cannot rely solely on increasing installed capacity.
Solar and wind allow for electricity generation without burning fossil fuels, but their output depends on weather conditions. Therefore, the system must combine renewables with storage, interconnections, backup capacity, and other technologies capable of supplying electricity when demand requires it.
Nuclear provides continuous generation with minimal dependence on daily wind or solar fluctuations. However, it raises other questions, such as waste management, infrastructure costs, long construction periods for new reactors, and particularly high safety standards.
Almaraz will stay open, but Spain maintains its 2035 nuclear shutdown plan
The extension does not mean Spain has abandoned its nuclear shutdown schedule.
MITECO clarifies that the 2035 closure date for Spain’s entire nuclear fleet remains unchanged. The decision to prolong Almaraz’s operation extends Unit I by 31 months and Unit II by 19 months, but does not alter the broader timeline for other reactors for now.
Currently, Spain has seven operational reactors: the two at Almaraz, two at Ascó, and the reactors at Cofrentes, Vandellós II, and Trillo.
Almaraz’s situation, however, introduces a significant precedent in the Spanish energy debate. A previously fixed closure date has been revised after re-evaluating technical conditions and the energy landscape.
International context has also shifted. While Spain aims to phase out nuclear power by 2035, other countries are extending reactor lifespans, building new plants, or exploring technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs).
This does not necessarily mean Spain will follow the same path. Nor does the Almaraz extension automatically imply further extensions.
What the decision demonstrates is that energy security is once again a key factor in the energy debate.
Electrification of transportation and parts of industry, growth of data centers, expansion of artificial intelligence, and the ongoing shift away from fossil fuels will increase the importance of reliable electricity supply in the coming decades.
Spain has significant renewable capacity and continues to expand it. The challenge will be to support that growth with sufficient storage, grid infrastructure, and interconnections to ensure electricity is available where and when needed.
Almaraz will now remain part of that energy mix for a little longer—until June 2030—provided it maintains the safety conditions required by the CSN.
Afterwards, the question remains: what role will Spanish nuclear energy play toward 2035?
Frequently Asked Questions
Until when will the Almaraz nuclear power plant operate?
The new authorization allows both Almaraz I and Almaraz II to operate until June 8, 2030, as long as they meet the established conditions.
How much is the reactors’ lifespan extended?
Unit I gains an additional 31 months over its previous schedule, and Unit II, 19 months.
Has the Nuclear Safety Council approved the extension?
The CSN issued a mandatory favorable report, with conditions. Its assessment concluded that safety levels remain adequate for continued operation during the requested period.
Has Spain canceled its 2035 nuclear shutdown plan?
No. The Government explicitly states that this extension does not currently alter the plan for fully phasing out nuclear power by 2035.
