Barcelona — Spain's 1.09 GW Vandellos 2 nuclear plant has applied for a ten-year renewal of its operating licence, with the aim of taking generation through to July 2030.
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Register NowAsociacion Nuclear Asco-Vandellos II (ANAV) has presented an application to the country's Ecological Transition Ministry ahead of a deadline of the end of March for its submission.
"The partners of ANAV agreed on Friday, March 22 to apply for the renewal for 10 years through to July 2030," the group said. The partners are Endesa with a 72% stake and Iberdrola with 28%.
The renewal follows confirmation earlier this week that the operators of the two Almaraz reactors (Iberdrola, Endesa and Naturgy) have applied for shorter licence extensions in line with the country's National Climate Plan, and a protocol agreed between the main parties to a timetable for a nuclear phase out.
Under the agreed plan, Almaraz 1 will close in November 2027 and Almaraz 2 in October 2028.
The expiry of a new licence for Vandellos 2 will occur before its proposed closure date of 2034, meaning it will require further renewal in 2030.
A spokesman for Iberdrola said the partners would also seek a 10-year license extension for the Asco plant, which is due for renewal in March next year. A spokesman for Endesa declined to comment.
Asco consists of two 1.03 GW units, one owned 100% by Endesa and slated for 2029 closure, and the other 85% held by Endesa and 15% by Iberdrola with an expected closure date of 2033.
-- Gianluca Baratti, newsdesk@spglobal.com
-- Edited by Alisdair Bowles, newsdesk@spglobal.com