Overview
- The Congress of Deputies rejected a PP amendment to the Mobility Law that would have erased closure dates for Almaraz, Ascó and Cofrentes, with 172 votes against, 171 in favor and seven abstentions from Junts.
- The Government will not ask the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) to pause Almaraz’s shutdown procedures and will send the plant owners’ request to run until June 2030 for safety review.
- Iberdrola, Endesa and Naturgy filed the extension request after also submitting mandatory closure documentation to meet legal deadlines, and they have parked demands for immediate broad tax cuts on nuclear plants.
- Almaraz says it is in the best technical condition to continue long term, noting Unit 2 returned to the grid after refueling and citing compliance with a CSN safety review current through 2030.
- Political fallout intensified in Extremadura and Valencia, with PP figures accusing PSOE of betraying regional interests and Valencia officials warning of economic harm, including an estimate that Cofrentes’ 2030 closure could affect up to 12,000 firms and more than 180,000 jobs.