The nuclear ones entrust their continuity to a Government of PP and Vox: "We are prepared to function as long as necessary"

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To slam the door overnight to all the Spanish nuclear power plants, the Government should, at a minimum, triple the production of wind energy or sixfold solar photovoltaic.

Despite the fact that nuclear energy closed 2021 giving the baton to wind power in terms of the amount contributed to the network, this energy continues to be essential to guarantee the country's energy sovereignty, as announced last Friday by the PP led by Alberto Núñez - Feijoo.

Along with the 'popular' allegation, the rise in electricity prices and the skepticism of the markets in the face of the bolts on Moscow gas have revived requests such as that of the Catalan employers' association for these facilities to continue operating despite the closure plan drawn up by the Government, which sets its total dismantling in 2035 with the closure of the Trillo plant.

Moncloa's intention is to consummate a 'change of cycle' towards renewables.

However, sources in the sector assure that they see in the paradigm shift announced by the Popular Party the opportunity to, at least for now, extend their activity in Spanish territory beyond the current

.

In the document that the

sent to

regarding the economic situation that Europe is going through, the main lines of action proposed by the

are broken down .

Among them, the point referring to "extending the useful life of the reactors" stands out up to 60 years of use, 20 more than those provided for by current regulations.

In the US they already have a license to operate for up to 80 years.

Feijóo's message has fallen like rain in the industry, where they claim "to be prepared" to extend their activity beyond 2035, although the main problem is that

.

For those plants whose closure is closer - 2027, Almaraz I - the extension order should be executed without further delay.

This is due, in part, to the fact that fuel suppliers need time to produce and supply them to the plants, it is not something that can be ordered 24 hours in advance.

For nuclear energy to establish itself in Spain in a stable manner in the medium term, not only must there be a change of course in the Government's lines of action.

.

"There is no company that works at a loss by definition," said

, president of the Nuclear Forum, this Wednesday during the presentation of the results of the employer's association that he directs.

The economic situation that Spain is going through, with skyrocketing electricity prices, is far from affecting the pockets of nuclear power plants.

They have all their production from 2022 and part of 2023 sold at an amount close to 60 euros, a figure well below the exorbitant limits that the wholesale market has set in recent years.

In the same way, they understand that the tax burden borne by the industry is "very high" and they consider that "a revision in certain aspects must be attended to".

Without going any further, only in green installments, the centrals paid in Catalonia the amount of 180 million euros last year.

That is why the industry is not only waiting for a modification in the guidelines set by Moncloa, but also for the existence of a friendlier generic environment that offers a series of guarantees to sell this energy in a more competitive way in the future.

In this sense,

, president of Iberdrola -a company that runs most of the plants in Spain together with Endesa-, stressed this Wednesday that the nuclear ones are prepared to work "as long as necessary" provided that "there are more investments" and "more costs are recovered".

442 worldwide

The path of 'denuclearization' that Spain has taken does not work in accordance with the strategies established at a global level.

58 nuclear power plants are in the construction phase and almost 90 in the planning period.

In Europe, neighboring

has announced the opening of 6 large reactors and a significant number - it has not specified - of smaller plants.

In the

, two large ones are going to be built, while

has extended the closing date - which was scheduled for 2025 - for ten more years for those units that were to cease their activity during the present five years.

and

also intend to increase their nuclear power in the coming years.

In total, 13 of the 25 member states of the European Union produce this type of energy, a figure that represents 25% of the total of the entire EU electricity network.

By country, the

remains the main power in this type of energy, with 86 long-term operating reactors.

Consensus PSOE, PP and Cs

Within the conglomerate of parties that are in favor of extending the activity of nuclear power plants, the sector has had the support of Vox for some time now, to which the Popular Party has joined - as a result of the arrival of Feijóo - and Citizens.

However, the apparent refusal that prevails from Ferraz is not shared in all the socialist squares of Spain.

Last Thursday, the Socialist Party of Extremadura approved, at the request of the orange formation, to submit to the central government the proposal to prolong the life of the

plant (Cáceres), whose activity must cease in 2027.

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