Parliament to Debate Future of Nuclear Energy Despite Coalition Government's Opposition

As the controversy over the April 28th blackout still echoes, precisely on the day the Government released its first report trying to distribute responsibilities within the electricity sector between the system operator and the producing companies, a new political front opens for Pedro Sánchez's Cabinet regarding the future of nuclear energy in Spain. Junts' abstention, less unexpected given the sensitivity of the issue for their political stance, allows Parliament to formally open this debate sponsored by the PP and supported by Vox.

The bill presented weeks ago by the Popular Party, which calls for extending the current nuclear plant closure schedule—the first being Almaraz I in November 2027 and Almaraz II in October 2028, with the last being Trillo in May 2035—passed its first significant parliamentary hurdle on Tuesday and will be debated by the Lower House. The coalition government of PSOE and Sumar, along with most of its parliamentary allies, failed to overcome the 171 affirmative votes from PP and Vox, alongside seven abstentions from Junts.

The PP's legislative proposal outlines the conditions for the operation and cessation of nuclear facilities. Among other things, according to Europa Press, it introduces supply security criteria among the possible scenarios to maintain nuclear operations, provided they meet the necessary conditions to ensure nuclear safety.

The initiative also includes an update to Enresa's General Radioactive Waste Plan to consider a ten-year extension to what is established in the Protocol of Intentions for the orderly closure of facilities. Additionally, it proposes an update to the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) to ensure respect for the principle of technological neutrality.

"This Government, which has only a short time left, cannot make the momentous decision of nuclear closure, which will create an irreversible problem in the electricity system, for another administration to handle in a few months," warned PP deputy Juan Diego Requena while defending the legislative initiative.

Throughout his speech, he responded to the usual arguments from PSOE against extending the life of nuclear plants. He emphasized that the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) and the European Union (EU) indicate that "the more frequent the periodic safety reviews, the greater the safety of nuclear plants."

He also highlighted that "the National Grid itself maintains that nuclear closure directly impacts the security of electricity supply." Moreover, he ironically noted that the third vice-president and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Sara Aagesen, claims that "the electricity system is operating in reinforced mode and that this is multiplying the costs of adjustment services" while requesting that the extension of nuclear plants does not result in higher costs for citizens.

BNG, Podemos, and EH-Bildu have opposed nuclear energy and the PP's idea of extending its useful life. BNG deputy Néstor Rego recalled that Galicia said "no" to this type of energy decades ago and continues to do so. He also questioned what "economic interests" lie behind the "nuclear obsession of the ultra-right and the denialist far-right."

Meanwhile, EH Bildu deputy Mikel Otero Gabirondo labeled the PP's Bill as a "pamphlet" without "legal grounding, which endangers the ecological transition and could only be executed by reaching into people's pockets via electricity bills."

Meanwhile, Podemos deputy Martina Verlarde urged the Government to "clear any doubts" and ensure "strict" adherence to the nuclear closure schedule. "What really concerns us is that the Government starts to falter under the pressure of the nuclear lobby and also under the pressure of its right-wing and far-right spokespersons," she warned.

On the other hand, EAJ-PNV deputy Idoia Sagastizabal Unzetabarrenetxea pointed out that the debate "is not about nuclear energy yes or no," but rather that deputies should ask themselves how to promote competitiveness with lower energy costs.

To Catalonia, which has a greater nuclear dependency, she said that "there is time" to develop conversion plans so that the nuclear closures have the least possible economic and labor impact. More generally, she warned that if a "stable and sustainable" ecological transition is desired, the regulatory framework cannot be changed "every so often."

ERC and JxCat have specifically demanded a "just transition." JxCat deputy Pilar Calvo Gómez asked what the Government will do about the expected increase in electricity demand for Catalonia in the coming years. "In reality, we must ask ourselves how we are going to do it, because with these attitudes from the central government and Illa's absenteeism, it seems that Catalans, once again, are left without solutions or answers," she lamented.

Before the vote, they warned that if the Bill was considered, the party would present an amendment because the nuclear schedule cannot be debated without making an effort in renewable future and a just transition for the territory.

Furthermore, ERC deputy Teresa Jordà i Roura explained that her party does not support extending the life of nuclear plants, but neither does it want an improvised closure, "which jeopardizes the economy and the life of the territory" because PP and PSOE governments "have not been able to do their homework."

She pointed out to the central government that if they finally want to reconsider this schedule, ERC demands that an energy transition towards renewables be guaranteed, an urgent and effective reindustrialization plan be implemented in nuclear areas, and that a solid labor protection for affected workers be carried out.

Vox deputy José María Figaredo Álvarez-Sala criticized that on one side is the PSOE, "which openly attacks the nuclear system," and on the other is the PP, which does "the opposite" of what it writes when it governs. In this regard, he stressed that Santiago Abascal's party has called for the elimination of the nuclear tax in Valencia, and the 'popular' have said it will be removed from January 1, 2027.

He also emphasized that electricity consumption will "multiply" in the coming decades and recalled that artificial intelligence uses "intensive" consumption. "If things go as they should, Spain will multiply its electricity consumption by three or four times in the coming years. And for this, we must achieve a constant supply. It cannot be achieved today without nuclear plants," he warned.

Sumar deputy Eloi Badia Casas criticized that the PP proposes that Parliament "roll out the red carpet" and make "a tailor-made suit of 2,000 million euros" for Endesa, Iberdrola, and Naturgy, when these companies "have manipulated offers to increase electricity prices, used privileged information to enlarge their profits, and acted as a cartel by agreeing on prices to set higher profit margins to swell their billions in profits."

Finally, PSOE deputy Andreu Martín Martínez reminded the PP that it said the bank bailout "would not cost" Spaniards when it ended up being paid by "the whole" society and pointed out that Alberto Núñez Feijóo's party now wants nuclear waste to be paid for "eternally."

"Renewables are quality jobs. They allow for greater diversity of initiatives and investors. They position us globally. They enable cheaper tariffs. They make us less vulnerable to the geopolitical situation. This is the future," he emphasized.