The socialist sector of the Government rejects that the extension of the operational life of the Almaraz nuclear power plant until 2030 constitutes a breach of the coalition agreement signed with Sumar in 2023. They insist that the closure schedule for the nuclear park remains set for 2035 and, therefore, deny any risk of a rupture of the Executive, emphasizing that the minority partner was aware of the announcement.
The extension became effective this Friday with its publication in the Official State Bulletin (BOE), through an order from the Executive. After it became known, Sumar rejected the decision and accused the socialists of breaching the Government pact for the current legislature, signed in October 2023.
This document establishes that the PSOE and Sumar will proceed with the closure of nuclear power plants in a "planned, safe, orderly, and socially just" manner, and that this process will be executed "staggering the cessation of operation of all Spanish plants between 2027 and 2035."
The initial plan stated that in 2027 the first reactor of Almaraz, in the province of Cáceres, would be disconnected, and that in 2028 the plant would cease its activity completely. However, the socialist side has opted to postpone that schedule due to the "exceptional and unforeseen international energy situation" arising from the war in the Middle East and the prolongation of the conflict in Ukraine.
The PP and the large electricity companies had been demanding this delay, while Sumar has rejected it outright, understanding that it responds to "corporate pressures and not to technical, environmental, or economic competitiveness needs" and that it implies a "profound rupture" of the commitment made to the citizens at the beginning of the legislature. Furthermore, they argue that the coalition Government is thus adopting "the path of the right and the far right," according to sources from the confederal group.
Only the closure of Almaraz is delayed within the nuclear plan
Sources from Moncloa consulted by Europa Press are trying to reduce the tension and consider that the disagreement "is not serious," dismissing that it could lead to an internal fracture of the coalition Government.
They argue that the Government agreement sets 2035 as the horizon for the closure of the nuclear park and emphasize that this schedule remains in effect; only the closure date of Almaraz has been modified on a specific basis, changing from 2027 to 2030.
They also emphasize that Sumar, as part of the Executive, knew that the announcement would be made public this Friday and therefore maintain that the situation falls within the normality of the institution.