Spain has renewed licences for the Asco-1 and -2 nuclear power plants in Catalonia, in the northeast of the country, meaning they can operate for another nine and 10 years respectively, until October 2030 and October 2031.

Spanish nuclear industry group Foro Nucler said the licences had been renewed following favourable assessments by the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) issued on July 28. The renewals had been requested by station operator the Asco-Vandellos II Nuclear Association (Anav) and were authorised by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.

The favourable CSN reports were based “both on the verification of the correct functioning of the plant and the maintenance of the adequate level of safety to continue its operation, as well as on the verification of the capacity of the installation to respond to current regulatory requirements of greater demand than those strictly required in its original design”, Anav said.