De Almaraz a Ascó y Vandellós: se reabre el melón de alargar la vida a las nucleares catalanas

Fifty years ago, on August 23, 1976, Spain’s government authorized the construction of a nuclear power plant in Regodola, near Xove, Galicia. The decision was made by the Directorate-General for Energy under the Franco dictatorship, authorizing the project led by a consortium of companies including FENOSA, Eléctrica del Cantábrico, and Eléctrica de Viesgo. The proposed facility would have had a capacity of 1,000 megawatts and used a light-water reactor. The authorization came nine months after the initial request was made public in December 1973, following a period of growing interest in nuclear energy as part of Spain’s broader push toward modernization during the late 1960s and early 1970s. At the time, Spain was already constructing its first generation of nuclear plants, such as Zorita, Garoña, and Vandellós I, which were key components of the country's energy strategy. The approval of the Regodola project was part of the National Energy Plan, which aimed to have 24 nuclear reactors operational by 1985. However, this ambitious goal was ultimately unmet, with only ten reactors eventually coming online, seven of which remain in operation today. The project in Xove was intended to be one of these, but it was never built due to sustained opposition from local communities and environmental concerns. The opposition began to grow gradually in the mid-1970s, fueled by increasing awareness of the risks associated with nuclear technology. Initially, resistance was limited, partly because Spain was still under authoritarian rule, and political activism was heavily restricted. Access to information was also controlled, making it difficult for citizens to fully understand the implications of the project. However, the situation changed as grassroots movements emerged, particularly through cultural groups like Sementeira, founded in Viveiro in 1972, and the Club Cultural Valle Inclán in Lugo. These organizations played a crucial role in raising public consciousness about the dangers of nuclear energy. In addition to community efforts, experts such as engineer Pedro Costa Morata contributed to the discourse, participating in discussions at universities like the University of Santiago de Compostela. As more details about the project surfaced, fears grew over the potential impact of using seawater for cooling, which could harm marine life and local fisheries. This concern helped galvanize local residents into action, leading to legal challenges against the project. Although the initial challenge was rejected, the movement gained momentum, culminating in the eventual cancellation of the project. By the early 1980s, the anti-nuclear sentiment had become powerful enough to influence national policy. In 1984, the Spanish government imposed a nuclear moratorium, effectively halting all new projects, including the ones in Xove, Lemóniz, Sayago, and Valdecaballeros. This decision marked a turning point in Spain’s energy policy, shifting focus away from nuclear expansion and towards other forms of energy production. The legacy of the Xove protests continues to shape contemporary debates around nuclear energy, especially as current discussions revolve around extending the lifespans of existing reactors. Today, the issue of nuclear energy remains contentious, particularly in Catalonia, where three reactors operate, Almaraz, Ascó, and Vandellós. Proponents argue that extending their operational lives is essential for maintaining economic stability and reducing carbon emissions, while opponents emphasize the need for a transition to renewable energy sources. The debate reflects broader tensions between different models of energy production and the socio-economic interests they serve.