Village braces for closure of Spain's largest nuclear plant

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Village braces for closure of Spain's largest nuclear plant

Almaraz: The uncertain future of the Almaraz nuclear power plant is casting a long shadow over the western Spanish village of Almaraz, as the facility faces a scheduled closure in 2028.

Contributing approximately seven per cent of Spain’s total electricity production, the plant is a central fixture in the leftist government’s broader strategy to decommission all national nuclear reactors by 2035.

However, a nationwide blackout in 2025 and recent fuel supply disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East have reignited fierce debate over the planned phase-out.

These events have prompted a wider reassessment of nuclear energy across Europe, with many questioning the wisdom of shuttering reliable power sources during a period of intense energy instability.

The closure poses a significant economic threat to one of Spain’s poorest regions, where the plant provides roughly 800 permanent jobs. Beyond the core staff, hundreds of seasonal workers rely on the facility for refuelling operations, earning substantial wages of up to €6,000 (£5,000) per month.

The decommissioning timeline, established by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in 2019, intends to shut the first reactor in 2027 and the second in 2028.

While the government remains focused on a transition to renewable energy, local residents and workers fear the move will lead to economic ruin and a permanent loss of high-wage employment in the area.