Ribera d'Ebre unanimously calls for review of nuclear power plant closures

The County Council asks the Spanish government to rethink the schedule for Ascó and Vandellòs due to slow renewable growth.

Generic image of the cooling towers of a nuclear power plant under a cloudy sky.
IA

Generic image of the cooling towers of a nuclear power plant under a cloudy sky.

The Ribera d'Ebre County Council has unanimously passed a motion filed by Junts requesting the Central Government to revise the decommissioning schedule for the Ascó and Vandellòs nuclear plants.

Local authorities argue that the 2019 agreement between the State and utilities like Endesa is outdated. Nuclear energy still accounts for 56.7% of Catalonia's power generation, far exceeding the 21.6% provided by renewables, raising concerns about grid stability.
The motion highlights the potential loss of 3,000 jobs in the region. Conversely, environmental experts warn that the facilities have already surpassed their 25-year design life, pointing to safety risks and the ongoing challenge of radioactive waste management.