18 Feb (NucNet): The Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (NSC) said yesterday that its five commissioners had unanimously approved a 10-year operating licence extension for the Cofrentes nuclear unit, allowing it to run until at least 2021.
In a statement, the council said commissioners had forwarded the recommendation to the Ministry of Industry for final approval.
Cofrentes is a 1,064-megawatt unit in the province of Valencia. It began commercial operation in 1984.
Earlier this week Spain’s Congress ratified an economic law that means the country’s eight commercially operating nuclear units can run for longer than 40 years.
The amendment to the law of economic sustainability removes the reference to the 40-year life of nuclear reactors and says that nuclear energy’s share in the country’s generation mix still needs to be determined.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Spain Ready To Resume Work On Energy Policy Proposals (News In Brief No. 175, 04 October 2010)
Spain Must Plan For Three New Units, Says Industry Group (News In Brief No. 94, 26 May 2010)
Spain Paves Way For Longer Operation Of Nuclear Plants (News In Brief No. 32, 16 February 2011)
