Spain is slowing the pace of its nuclear phase-out as policymakers confront rising energy uncertainty, stronger calls for supply security, and renewed debate over the role of atomic power in the country’s electricity mix.
The biggest recent shift is the decision to extend the Almaraz nuclear plant’s operations until June 2030. That move pushes back the original timetable, under which the plant’s two reactors were due to begin closing in 2027 and 2028.
Spain has long planned to retire its nuclear fleet by 2035, but that schedule has become increasingly contested. Industry groups, lawmakers, and energy commentators have argued that keeping reactors online for longer could help support grid stability, reduce exposure to volatile fuel markets, and preserve a low-carbon source of power.
The debate intensified after a major blackout on the Iberian Peninsula in April 2025, which sharpened concerns about the resilience of Spain’s electricity system.
Since then, pressure has grown on the government to reconsider whether the country can afford to lose nuclear capacity as quickly as originally planned.
For now, officials insist the extension of Almaraz does not amount to a broader reversal of the phase-out policy. But the decision signals a more pragmatic approach: Spain is still committed to closing its reactors eventually, while also acknowledging that changing market conditions and energy-security concerns may require a slower transition.
Spain Slows Nuclear Phase-out Amidst Energy Turbulence
