The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Miteco) has renewed the operating license for the Almaraz Nuclear Power Plant for Units I and II, according to the order published this Friday in the Official State Gazette (BOE). The decision will allow the two reactors of the Extremadura plant to remain operational at least until June 8, 2030.
The Ministry’s decision ends a process that officially began in October 2025, when the three owners of the plant — Iberdrola, Endesa, and Naturgy — agreed to formally request the extension. The phased shutdown of its two reactors was initially set for November 1, 2027, for Unit I and October 31, 2028, for Unit II, according to the protocol established at the time by Enresa and the energy companies.
According to the ministerial order, the extension of operation will be subject to strict compliance with the safety conditions and instructions issued by the CSN.
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Middle East
The Government justifies the decision due to the volatility of gas prices derived from the Iran war
The Nuclear Safety Council already issued a favorable report on July 16 for the requested renewal, conditioned on compliance with the nuclear safety and radiological protection limits and requirements now included in the order. The technical endorsement of the regulatory body certified and accredited that the nuclear facility in Cáceres meets the necessary safety conditions to operate safely during this extension period.
The Ministry also justifies the decision due to the new international energy context and the volatility of gas prices derived from the crisis in the Middle East. According to the calculations included in the resolution, maintaining Almaraz until 2030 would have a “limited and insignificant” effect on renewable deployment and would help reduce gas dependency.
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