Spain’s three largest utilities are working on plans to extend the lifespan of the country’s largest-capacity nuclear power station, whose reactors are slated to be shut down in 2027 and 2028.

Iberdrola, Endesa and Naturgy Energy Group are seeking to postpone the planned closing of the two-unit Almaraz facility in western Spain until 2030, Endesa chief executive officer Jose Bogas said on 29 May, according to various reports.

The plans could be the first step to Madrid rethinking its plan to shut down the country’s fleet of seven commercial nuclear reactors by 2035.

That plan was agreed upon about six years ago by the utilities that own the facilities and Enresa, the state-owned company in charge of managing radioactive waste and of dismantling nuclear plants. Iberdrola holds the majority of Almaraz, with a 53% stake.