Francisco Andrés Pérez, Research fellow, Center for International Relations and Development Studies (CIDOB Foundation), Barcelona, Spain

— The lifetime extension of Garoña is like the symbolic message to the public opinion about the government’s decision over the future on nuclear energy

There are currently eight nuclear reactors that produce nearly 20% of total electricity. Garoña is 1.5% of electricity production.

When Spanish nuclear industry started in the late 60’s, it was a strategic choice in a country highly dependent on fossil fuels, with no indigenous resources and isolated from the rest of Europe in terms of energy exchanges.

In the 1983 the socialist government set up a moratorium and many projects to install third generation plants were abandoned. It was a political decision . Then, the government faced to the challenge of feeding the economic growth with an intensive increase in energy demand. It decided to extend the use of the more efficient and ecologically friendly plants in electricity generation, thus diversifying energy basket of the country. The fight against climate change and the commitment to reduce CO2 emissions opened again in recent years the consideration of the role of nuclear energy.

The Nuclear Safety Council recommended a 10-year extension. Concerning safety, NSC ensures that the plant would be safe provided the firm Nuclenor has invested €150 millions in last decade to improve safety and there was a plan in 2011 to add €50 mill. However the government granted only a four year license extension in an effort to keep a balance between the socialist party’s demands to close down Spanish nuclear plants and the public opinion (large number of workers of the NPP would become unemployed in the period of financial crisis). Besides for nuclear industry the extension is very profitable after recouping the investment.