In a note sent to the Lusa news agency, Quercus explained that it participated in the public consultation on the new Individualised Temporary Storage (ATI-100) of the Spanish nuclear plant, through which it presented alternative suggestions to the proposal made by the project promoter Empresa de Centrales Nucleares Almaraz-Trillo (CNAT).

“We advocate that the Portuguese Environment Agency issue an opinion requesting a definitive alternative for nuclear waste,” it argued.

ATI-100 is an intermediate step in Spain's 7th Radioactive Waste Plan.

According to the project, a definitive solution will not be found before 2073, which would be a Deep Geological Storage Facility (AGP).

“We believe that an alternative to what is proposed [ATI-100] is necessary. It is necessary to speed up the availability of the AGP, setting in motion as soon as possible the complex political, social and technical process that leads to a less harmful solution, since the problem of high-level radioactive waste cannot be addressed without risks or damage”, Quercus summed up.

Regarding what is currently being analysed, the environmentalists stressed that “situations such as the possible installation of a Decentralised Temporary Storage Facility (ATD) should be foreseen from now on and whether the installation of the ATI-100 could not compromise the ATD”.

“Shouldn’t there therefore be a subsequent independent Environmental Impact Study as indicated in the document currently under discussion”, they questioned.

They also added that the document under analysis “does not consider the possibility of a serious or catastrophic accident”, a risk that, according to Quercus, “should be taken into account”.

“The waste management plan shows that nuclear energy is expensive, dirty and dangerous. We have been fighting for many years with the Iberian Antinuclear Movement (MIA) for the closure of the Almaraz nuclear power plant, which poses a danger to Spain and also to Portugal”, they concluded.

In August, the APA announced the ongoing public consultation (until the end of the month) for the construction of a new warehouse at the Almaraz nuclear power plant, to deposit highly radioactive waste 100 kilometres from the border with Portugal.

Environmentalists stressed that the best way to manage nuclear waste is to not generate it, which is why they advocate the closure of all nuclear power plants.

The Almaraz plant is located next to the Tagus River and borders the Portuguese districts of Castelo Branco and Portalegre, with Vila Velha de Ródão being the first Portuguese town to be bathed by the Tagus after the river entered Portugal.

In operation since 1981 (commercial operation since 1983), the plant is located in a seismic risk zone and is only 110 kilometres as the crow flies from the Portuguese border.

The Spanish government renewed the operating licence for Groups I and II of the Almaraz plant in July 2020, extending it until 1 November 2027 and 31 October 2028, respectively.

In June, the Spanish public company Enresa, responsible for managing radioactive waste, announced the start of the tender process for engineering services for the decommissioning of the Almaraz nuclear plant, located in the province of Cáceres.

The owners of the Almaraz plant are Iberdrola (53%), Endesa (36%) and Naturgy (11%).