The UGT has reaffirmed its support for extending the activity of nuclear power plants beyond the closure schedule set by the Spanish Government. The union argues that since the plants already exist, the priority must be to extend their useful life with full safety guarantees, citing precedents in other parts of the world.
“"It is not about deciding whether we want nuclear power or not. We have them, and it is about seeing if their life can be extended with full safety guarantees."
The union leader, Pepe Álvarez, also defended that nuclear energy is considered a "clean energy source" by the European Union, and that the country cannot afford to dispense with this supply source. Furthermore, he reiterated the proposal that Ascó (Ribera d'Ebre) host the MTC, arguing that it would improve safety conditions compared to the Individualized Temporary Storage facilities (MTI) currently under construction.
“"It will create jobs, and we will also have a deposit with absolute security of an energy material, a reserve that is gaining more value every day in the world."
This proposal for Ascó was already put forward in 2010 but was rejected due to territorial opposition and lack of support from the Government. Ultimately, the Spanish Government chose the municipality of Villar de Cañas (Cuenca). In 2023, the seventh atomic waste plan was approved, which opts for the construction of seven MTIs, one at each power plant.
The MTI in Ascó is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2027, while the one at Vandellòs II is expected next autumn. An MTI will also be built at Vandellòs I (closed since 1989) to return the waste stored by France. The state company Enresa has paid over 150 million euros in guarantees to ensure this return.
