The platform Yes to Almaraz, yes to the future takes its protest to Brussels, where a delegation will meet with various EU representatives and politicians on Monday and Tuesday to defend the future of the power plant. The Government's plan is to close the facility in 2027, marking the first step of the nuclear phase-out proposed by the Pedro Sánchez administration, which is considered a "serious mistake".
"Spain is the driver going in the opposite direction in terms of nuclear energy. The Spanish Government cannot go against the entire energy policy of Europe. Closing Almaraz would be a huge blow to not only Spanish but also European energy sovereignty," explains Fernando Sánchez, president of the platform, in an interview with EL MUNDO. "In Brussels, we need to make Europe listen to us and see what could happen if the plant is closed. Almaraz supplies electricity to more than four million households," he continues, highlighting the importance of the plant.
"I am a radiological technician at the plant, and entering Almaraz is entering a safe zone. Even safer than your own home. Almaraz has three resident inspectors from the Nuclear Safety Council inside the plant 365 days a year. It's like having the Tax Office in your business every day. Almaraz is among the top five nuclear power plants in Europe, and I dare say it ranks among the top ten in the world," he states when asked about the safety of the facility, potential issues related to nuclear energy, and the quality of controls not only at the Extremadura plant but also at others nationwide.
Sánchez stresses the need to prevent the closure of Almaraz and avoid a situation where the Government realizes that the nuclear phase-out was a mistake. "Between November and December, two reactors at the Ascó nuclear power plant had to be shut down, and power had to be reduced in all industries because it was believed that demand could not be met. We cannot afford a situation where they say 'we were wrong' after the closure. Extremadura cannot be used as a guinea pig again," he points out.
The platform's demand also stems from the fact that Almaraz is essential for the local and regional economy of Extremadura. It provides thousands of direct jobs, numerous indirect positions, and plays a crucial role in the region's future. "The Ministry is for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, it has a surname. And it seems that is forgotten. In Extremadura, we have been fighting for years to prevent rural areas from depopulating, and 3,000 jobs in rural areas are significant. Additionally, there are promising projects in Extremadura such as the gigafactory in Navalmoral de la Mata or the two data centers that Merlin intends to build between Navalmoral and Valdecaballeros. But if Almaraz closes, these centers won't have the stable energy supply needed for their operations and the region's industrialization process. If we lose that plant, Extremadura's future will be even bleaker," the platform's president emphasizes.
Connected to this, Sánchez highlights the importance of energy independence that Spain would lose if the nuclear phase-out continues. "If you close nuclear power plants, you will have to buy energy. From France, for example. And we would no longer control energy prices; the supplying country would. This would impact prices, of course. On the bill," he concludes.