The Portuguese Ecologist Party Os Verdes (PEV) has officially challenged the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, through an open letter. The Greens are urging the Portuguese government to exert maximum political pressure on its Spanish counterpart to secure the immediate and definitive closure of the Almaraz Nuclear Power Plant.
An Irresponsible Extension for an Aging Facility
This mobilization follows a favorable review issued by Spain’s Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), which opens the door to extending the plant’s operational life until June 2030. According to Os Verdes, the regulatory body hid behind bureaucratic regulations while failing to analyze critical safety issues that naturally arise from the aging infrastructure—a common omission in license renewals.
The truth is that this nuclear facility has long exceeded its intended lifespan. One of its reactors has been running since 1983 and the other since 1984, meaning both have been in operation for over 40 years. Environmentalists view extending the operations of these aging facilities as a gamble with catastrophic risks.
A Environmental Threat at Portugal’s Doorstep
Located only about 100 kilometers from the Portuguese border, the Almaraz plant represents an immediate danger to the Iberian Peninsula. A major incident would directly impact the border districts of Castelo Branco and Portalegre. Furthermore, because the plant sits along the Tagus River, any radioactive contamination would endanger downstream populations all the way to Santarém, Setúbal, and the capital city of Lisbon.
With Spain having until September 2026 to make its final executive decision regarding the extension, Os Verdes emphasize that this is a critical window for diplomatic pressure. This decision rests with the Spanish government, not its regulatory body, and allowing it to pass would set a dangerous precedent for European nuclear safety.
“Nuclear is Not Green”
Through this open letter, Os Verdes are reaffirming a core, universal stance: nuclear energy is not green, and it remains a systemic risk to humanity and the environment. The party urges Portugal to stand firm on its historical anti-nuclear position and send a clear message to Madrid: “Nuclear energy? No, thank you!”
