A start that scrupulously respects the closure schedule agreed by Ribera with the three companies that own the nuclear fleet in Spain (Iberdrola, Endesa and Naturgy) in 2019, as sources from the electricity sector confirmed to EL ESPAÑOL-Invertia.
On November 1, the reduction period began, so the closure order is on schedule. But this is not the first thing that was activated to start the dismantlinga process that will not begin for at least three years.
In accordance with Almaraz closure forecasts, Enresa (National Radioactive Waste Company SA) It also began with the development of decommissioning design activities and preparation of regulatory documentation for the future request for dismantling authorization, as Enresa sources confirmed to this newspaper.
As the final breakdown of this plant occurs, many circumstances can arise along the way that reverse the process.
“If the current stifling taxation of nuclear power plants were reviewed, they could be profitable and consequently, they would be asked to continue their operation,” sources in the nuclear sector explain to this newspaper. Political decisions are therefore now decisive.
“It is time to reverse the situation, there are still a few months of margin, the government can prevent the closure of Almaraz,” they add. Even if it’s more complex, “until the dismantling starts within 3 years, we can stop it and restart it, that’s what they did in Belgium with some of its factories, and in Germany is thinking about it“.
The main tax charges for the nuclear fleet are Enresa pricethe tax on the value of electrical energy production (IVPEE) and the tax on the production of spent nuclear fuel.
But are also included ecotaxes imposed by the autonomous communities, the tax rate Civil Guardthat of the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), he IBI (property tax), the IAE (of the tax administration) and those of sector operations.
Steps to follow
A nuclear power plant does not go offline by flipping a switch, but rather by gradually reducing the power of the reactors, and decommissioning Almaraz Reactor 1 is going to be a challenge due to the size of the facility, 1,050 MW of capacity and its 46 years of operation when they arrive on November 1, 2027, the planned failure date.
But before all this, the owner of the installation must present the request of the closure centerwhich must contain at least one report detailing the technical, economic, environmental or any other circumstances for which the closure is planned. And also, updated plans of the installation at an appropriate scale, accompanied by a plan for dismantling the installation, according to the Royal Decree 1836/1999, of December 3, which approves the regulation on nuclear and radioactive installations.
Then, the administrative response will arrive within 3 months. If it is positive, you must have a favorable report of Spanish Electricity Network (REE) on the compatibility of said closure with the security of supply of the electrical system. And then the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) You must also issue your approval report to the process.
From there, Enresa must carry out the radiological characterization of the installation and define the different radiological zones of the installation according to the type of contamination they present (both due to their function and possible spills, leaks, etc.).
Otherwise, “to request the renewal of the operating authorization, it is necessary for the owners of the factory to send to CSN a series of studies and reports at least three years before the end of its operation, so we are in a discount period,” he explained to this newspaper. Luis Villar, consultant specializing in M&A transactions, financial and market advisory services in the Spanish renewable energy sector.
