The Spanish government has extended the operating licence for the Almaraz in Extremadura allocated for 2026 may not reach farmers in time by 8 June 2030 nuclear power station. The ministerial order Orden TED/864/2026 was published on 14 August 2026 in the Boletín Oficial del Estado and authorises continued operation of Units I and II in the province of Cáceres subject to specific safety conditions.
The decision is based on an assessment by the Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear dated 16 July 2026. The regulator considers the extension acceptable but requires additional evidence and measures. These include robust staffing and maintenance plans for the entire extension period, the revision and ongoing updating of operating documents, and timely completion of the Revisión Periódica de Seguridad. The reporting requirements to the regulator set out in the licence text must also be met. The operating company, Centrales Nucleares Almaraz-Trillo, AIE, had previously submitted the required documents to the Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear.
The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) emphasises that the decision applies exclusively within the prescribed safety parameters. The government points to Almaraz’s importance for grid stability and security of supply during periods of fluctuating input from renewable energy sources. The extension does not fundamentally redefine the national energy policy framework, but it shifts the end date for this plant’s commercial operation and sets a clear timeline through to mid-2030.
The political and technical debate now centres on implementing the conditions and on related issues. Outstanding matters include details of the logistics for the interim and final storage of radioactive waste, the allocation of costs for upgraded safety requirements, and the involvement of nearby municipalities. MITECO says it will closely monitor progress in meeting the conditions. The Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear reserves the right to impose additional requirements if this proves necessary from a safety perspective.
With its publication in the Boletín Oficial del Estado, the decision has become legally effective. The authoritative texts are Orden TED/864/2026 and the conditions listed therein. Future steps depend on their implementation, further regulatory reviews and the course of the energy policy debate in Spain.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).