Nuclear Politics

Spain / Foro Nuclear President Renews Call For Government To Safeguard Nuclear

By David Dalton
29 October 2021

Foro Nuclear President Renews Call For Government To Safeguard Nuclear
Ignacio Araluce has said high taxes will make the operation of the nuclear park unsustainable. Courtesy Foro Nuclear.
Foro Nucler has renewed its call for Spain’s government to reduce the tax burden on the nuclear power industry that has significantly increased its cost and mad operating reactors uncompetitive in the medium term.

The Madrid-based group’s president, Ignacio Araluce, said despite the fact that nuclear energy is essential, the authorities should “review the specific fiscal framework that taxes the Spanish nuclear park to safeguard its economic viability”.

The Madrid-based group warned earlier this year that maintaining this high taxation system will make the operation of the nuclear park unsustainable and unviable in the coming years and lead to its closure earlier than expected. This would aggravate the current situation of high prices and increasing CO2 emissions.

Mr Araluce said earlier this year that commercial nuclear power is being penalised with access to funding sources more complicated than for other clean energy sources.

Spain has decided to phase out its seven commercial nuclear reactors by 2035, but an International Energy Agency report in May warned this might not be straightforward. The report said the government needs to closely monitor the financial situation of its “excellent” reactor fleet to prevent any unforeseen or sudden final shutdowns that could significantly deteriorate the security of electricity supply.

Foro Nuclear has said electricity production from the country’s nuclear plants is and has been the primary source of generation for the past decade, contributing over one-fifth of the electric energy consumed. Nuclear generates no CO2 and offers “remarkable regularity and reliability” as a firm energy source, providing stability to the electric system.

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