Public opinion argues that nuclear energy can and should be part of the national energy blueprint for our country’s future. In Spain, support for nuclear energy has grown significantly, with more than 43% of Spaniards in favour of extending the life of nuclear power plants in 2024, compared to 24% who supported this measure in 2019 (Real Instituto Elcano). And all this despite the stubbornness and twisted nature of the so-called narrative against this energy source and these plants, in which the “no to nuclear” is generated with lazy arguments that change depending on the political day of the year. Just a few weeks ago, an update of one of these surveys, carried out by Metroscopia (a leading institute for political polls and electoral estimates in Spain), showed that 31% of those questioned preferred to postpone the closure of nuclear power plants, while 24% preferred not to close them at all. Putting these percentages together, 55% of respondents were in favour of keeping the plants open. The change in trend is clear.
Perhaps this increase in support for nuclear power is linked to concerns about the security of national energy supplies and changes in European energy policy, or perhaps we need to look at the international context (the war in Ukraine and dependence on Russian gas), where nuclear power is seen as a more than viable alternative to reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Maybe it is seeing that the whole world is doing this, maybe there is more and more knowledge and the myths remain just that and nothing more…
And, on the other hand, more than 10,000 people (according to the organisation) cannot be wrong in their intention to reopen the debate on the future of nuclear energy in Spain. That is what happened on 18 January 2025 with a massive demonstration (street poll if you want to call it that) to defend the continuity of Almaraz. In the midst of the cold and fog, the voices of an important social collective were raised, calling for nuclear power to be seen as a solution that means more energy, more jobs and, of course, more future.
At this point, we would like that, with the same ease with which people change their minds from one day to the next regarding transcendental (or not so transcendental) issues in this country, we could wake up one morning with the following news: ‘After several weeks of meetings in which representatives of all sectors of society have participated and after having heard the arguments for and against nuclear technology, it has been concluded that NUCLEAR ENERGY HAS A FUTURE and therefore nuclear facilities in Spain will not be closed. The broad political consensus reached has made it possible to draw up a monitoring and action protocol to prevent the Spanish nuclear fleet from being shut down on schedule’.
We also live on illusion and confidence in common sense.
