Enresa, the public company responsible for radioactive waste management in Spain, has started the bidding process for the engineering services required to decommission the Almaraz nuclear power plant in Cáceres. This facility is 52% owned by Iberdrola Generación Nuclear, 36% by Endesa Generación and 11% by Gas Natural Fenosa Generación.
The budget for this operation is close to 28 million euros and is expected to be completed within 5 years, according to information available on the State Contracting Platform.
Engineering contract details
The main objective of the contract is to provide engineering services for the decommissioning of the plant, including studies, engineering design, specifications and construction projects, as well as the preparation of the necessary documentation to obtain the corresponding authorization. In accordance with the VII General Radioactive Waste Plan and the program for the decommissioning of nuclear facilities in Spain nuclear facilities in Spain The dates for the cessation of operation of Units I and II at Almaraz are scheduled for November 2027 and October 2028, respectively.
After these dates, a three-year period will be opened to transfer the ownership of the plant to Enresa, who will be in charge of the decommissioning, which will last approximately between 2030 and 2041.
Decommissioning and possible extension of Almaraz
The Almaraz nuclear power plant contemplates two possible scenarios: the cessation of operations on the scheduled dates or a possible extension. The latter must be communicated before the first quarter of 2025 to avoid organizational and licensing problems.
In the event that an extension of activity is approved, the plant would have to temporarily cease operations in 2027-2028 in order to reorganize its planning. In parallel, the plant has created an Asset Transition Department to start the decommissioning process and prepare for the operation of its second Individualized Temporary Storage (ITS) from 2026, in order to house all the fuel currently stored in the units’ cooling pools.
Production and storage capacity
The current ATI, with a capacity of twenty containers, will be 100% full by 2025, so it is crucial that the second ATI becomes operational to manage fuel for the two units in case of cessation of operation or continuity beyond 2028.
In 2023, the Almaraz plant reached a gross production of almost 17,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh), the third best record since it began commercial operation in 1983. (GWh), the third best record since it began commercial operation in 1983. With an accumulated production of 611,000 GWh, it is the facility that has contributed the most to the national electricity system.
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Source and photo: eleconomista
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