Nuclear energy, fine, thank you. But it could be better if we stopped turning our backs on it out of fear, ignorance, vested interest, or indifference, and started seeing it for what it truly is: an essential part of the country’s sustainable energy future—because it helps make our energy system more robust, diversified, and reliable, all while producing no greenhouse gas emissions.
Spain currently has seven nuclear reactors in operation: Almaraz I, Almaraz II, Ascó I, Ascó II, Cofrentes, Vandellós II, and Trillo. All of them have been contributing to our electricity system since the 1980s, and—don’t be misled—they are in perfect condition to continue doing so for many more years. They are in excellent shape because there has been a generational shift in the workforce that operates and maintains them; because since their inception, they have benefited from sustained annual investments ranging between 30 and 40 million euros per unit; and because international operational experience proves it—such as the North Anna plant in the United States, a reference facility for the Almaraz and Ascó units, which has been licensed to operate for 80 years. The seven plants currently operating in Spain are a useful and valuable resource—one that some, though increasingly fewer, insist on discarding, choosing to embrace fear over evidence.
Staying within Europe, we’ve witnessed a radical shift in the stance of nearly all countries, and we know exactly how long and how much it costs to build a new nuclear power plant—because it’s being done around the world. Building a new nuclear plant costs more than 5 billion euros, and yet our country is planning to simply throw away seven of them, without any technical justification.
Energy supply security is not infallible—we saw and experienced that on April 28. And we will continue to support an energy package in which nuclear power plays a key backup role in the face of the clear goal of decarbonization and electrification of the economy. Renewable sources like solar and wind are indispensable, yes—but not sufficient. Nuclear energy, with zero direct CO₂ emissions, provides stability, strength, and reliability. It does not replace renewables, nor does it seek to overshadow or hinder their development—on the contrary, it simply complements them.
In a context that is unfortunately becoming more polarized and politicized when it comes to the future of energy, the facts of that “black Monday” delivered a silent yet powerful message: nuclear energy is not only reliable, but also a vital component of a solid and resilient system to ensure supply security.
Spain must reconsider its energy roadmap. Maintaining nuclear infrastructure and revising and extending the decommissioning schedule of its nuclear plants is a smart investment in a sustainable future. It’s a strategic necessity that raises a question we hope will be answered with solid arguments, rather than fallacies, lies, or half-truths:
Why should we give up on a source of energy like nuclear, which has proven to be strategic, when we already have it available? Why should we shut down facilities that other countries envy?
