Last update:
2016-05-24

Nuclear Power Station in Almaraz, Spain

The Almaraz nuclear power station (two reactors of over 1000 MW each) on the Tagus River, is getting old and dangerous. There are renewed protests both in Spain and Portugal.



Description:

There was the initial purpose in Spain of building two large nuclear power stations in Extremadura, much beyong the electricity needs for the region. One, Valdecaballeros, was stopped by a grassroots popular movement in the late 1970s with some support by elected politicians. The other, the Almaraz Nuclear Power Station, began to be built in 1972. The first reactor started opperating in 1981 and the second one in 1983.

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Basic Data
Name of conflict:Nuclear Power Station in Almaraz, Spain
Country:Spain
State or province:Cáceres
Location of conflict:Almaraz
Accuracy of locationHIGH (Local level)
Source of Conflict
Type of conflict. 1st level:Nuclear
Type of conflict. 2nd level:Nuclear power plants
Interbasin water transfers/transboundary water conflicts
Specific commodities:Electricity
Project Details and Actors
Project details

La Central de Almaraz consta de dos reactores de agua ligera a presión de 2686 MW térmicos, cada uno de ellos con tres circuitos de refrigeración, y en su fabricación y construcción hay una aportación española superior al 80 por 100.

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Project area:1,683
Level of Investment for the conflictive project2,000,000,000 (when it was built in the 1970s)
Type of populationSemi-urban
Affected Population:8000
Start of the conflict:1972
Company names or state enterprises:Iberdrola from Spain
Union Fenosa from Spain
Naturgy (Naturgy) from Spain
Relevant government actors:Extremadura Regional Governement
Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available:Plataforma Antinuclear Cerrar Almaraz, Ecologistas en Acción Cáceres, Plataforma de Afectados por la Central Nuclear de Almaraz, Coordinadora Estatal Anti-Nuclear, MIA (Movimiento Ibérico Anti-Nuclear), Adenex, Greenpeace
Conflict & Mobilization
IntensityMEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization)
Reaction stageIn REACTION to the implementation (during construction or operation)
Groups mobilizing:Local ejos
Local government/political parties
Neighbours/citizens/communities
Social movements
Local scientists/professionals
Forms of mobilization:Creation of alternative reports/knowledge
Involvement of national and international NGOs
Public campaigns
Street protest/marches
Impacts
Environmental ImpactsVisible: Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation
Potential: Air pollution, Soil contamination, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality
Health ImpactsVisible: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…)
Potential: Accidents, Occupational disease and accidents
Socio-economical ImpactsPotential: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Loss of livelihood, Loss of landscape/sense of place
Other socio-economic impactsRisk of nuclear accident as the reactors get old. Transfrontier conflict on the risk to the Tagus river between Spain and Portugal.
Outcome
Project StatusIn operation
Conflict outcome / response:Institutional changes
New legislation
Application of existing regulations
Proposal and development of alternatives:Renewable energy
Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?:No
Briefly explain:The Nuclear Power Station is still in operation. In 2016 there are increasing protest in Extremadura but also in Portugal, downstream of the Tajo river.
Sources & Materials
Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc)

Ley 25/1964, de 29 de abril, sobre energía nuclear:
[click to view]

REAL DECRETO 1836/1999, de 3 de diciembre, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento sobre instalaciones nucleares y radiactivas:
[click to view]

Directiva 2009/71/Euratom del Consejo, de 25 de junio de 2009 , por la que se establece un marco comunitario para la seguridad nuclear de las instalaciones nucleares:
[click to view]

REAL DECRETO 229/2006, de 24 de febrero, sobre el control de fuentes radiactivas encapsuladas de alta actividad y fuentes huérfanas:
[click to view]

REAL DECRETO 783/2001, de 6 de julio, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento sobre protección sanitaria contra radiaciones ionizantes:
[click to view]

REAL Decreto 35/2008, de 18 de enero, por el que se modifica el Reglamento sobre Instalaciones Nucleares y Radiactivas, aprobado por Real Decreto 1836/1999, de 3 de diciembre:
[click to view]

Ley 54/1997, de 27 noviembre, del sector eléctrico:
[click to view]

LEY Orgánica 9/2010, de 22 de diciembre, por la que se autoriza la ratificación por España del Protocolo por el que se modifica el Protocolo sobre las disposiciones transitorias, anejo al Tratado de la Unión Europea, al Tratado de Funcionamiento de la Uni
[click to view]

References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries

Informe de Paca Blanco, 13 febrero 2009, Todo sobre la central nuclear de Almaraz
[click to view]

Web coordinadora estatal anti-nuclear:
[click to view]

Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network

Expresso, por Carla Tomás. Parlamento português quer fechar central nuclear de Almaraz. 29.04.2016
[click to view]

1983 - Botes de humo contra una manifestación antinuclear ante la central de Almaraz. Elisa Blazquez. Cáceres 8 AGO 1983
[click to view]

2011 - interrumpieron el acceso a la central extremeña. 200 personas se concentran en Almaraz para pedir el cierre de las nucleares. EFE 27/03/2011
[click to view]

Somos um movimento de cidadania em defesa do Tejo denominado "Movimento Pelo Tejo" (abreviadamente proTEJO) que congrega todos os cidadãos e organizações da bacia do TEJO em Portugal ...
[click to view]

Parlamento unânime pelo fecho da central nuclear de Almaraz. Por El Comunista, abril 29, 2016
[click to view]

El estado de la central nuclear de Almaraz preocupa en Portugal



Miembros del equipo coordinador de MIA se reunieron el 17 de abril 2016, en Mérida, con diferentes representantes de grupos ecologistas y de partidos políticos de ambos países, para informar sobre el estado actual de la central nuclear de Almara
[click to view]

Portugal pidió a España una reunión sobre el estado de la central de Almaraz. Agencia EFE – viernes 13 mayo 2016
[click to view]

Antinucleares piden la parada preventiva de Almaraz, como hizo Vandellós II con un fallo similar . Jesús Conde. El Diario 10/02/2016. Amplio informe del Foro Extremeño Antinuclear.
[click to view]

Meta information
Contributor:Amaranta Herrero
Last update18/08/2019
Conflict ID:84
Comments
Legal notice / Aviso legal
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