The government proposes to extend the lifetime of nuclear power plants

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The government is considering extending the term of life of nuclear plants 40 to " 50 or 60 ", as declared this Monday morning the president of the National Radioactive Waste Company (Enresa), Francisco Gil- Ortega. At a meeting in New Energy Forum, Gil -Ortega said that this goes in line with what they plan to other countries like USA, which plans to " reach 70 or 80 years." The Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) has refused to confirm or deny this information.

The announcement comes as the central Garoña (Burgos) has closed (permission expired in 2013). Since the Government had indicated its willingness to grant an extension to the center of Burgos, but the owners let them pass the time, was not supposed to face a series of updates that will be asked. Although the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism " have the right market " regarding Garoña, "something else is that employers see it," said Gil -Ortega.

Garona was the oldest of the Spanish and the same family as the Fukushima plant. Had an initial 25-year license then extended, said Carlos Bravo, environmental consultant Salvia. The rest of the Spanish plants meet the initial 40 years from 2020.

Nuclear power accounts for about 20% of electricity demand in Spain (today, namely Electrical data indicate that 22% in the Peninsula). So much as Raquel Bravo Stack, Greenpeace believe that extending the life of the plants does not make sense. In any case, says Stack, " the permission of operation is not given by law, is given by the CSN, inspecting plants every 10 years." In this sense, Trillo (Guadalajara) is the next thing you need to apply, and will later this year, according to his spokesman.

For Heap announcing Gil- Ortega aims to " throw balls out " to the " energy problem ". This has manifested itself in the scandal of the last auction price, which had to amend the Government, and for environmentalists has claimed a victim in renewables. "The EU is clear that these are cheaper. And the proof that they are not guilty of the tariff deficit is subject to a moratorium and this deficit continues to grow," says Heap.