Anti-nuclear movement in Spain
Encyclopedia
The late 1950s and early 1960s saw a strong push from the Spanish Government
to establish a national nuclear power
industry. In response to the surge in nuclear power plant plans, a strong anti-nuclear movement emerged in 1973, which ultimately impeded the realisation of most of the projects.
Conflict concerning the Lemóniz Nuclear Power Plant
in the Basque province of Vizcaya
was one of the major anti-nuclear issues in the 1970s and 1980s. Influenced by the civil opposition and the immense investment costs of the individual nuclear plant projects, the socialist government approved a moratorium in late March 1984, and ultimately only ten of the 37 originally planned commercial nuclear reactor
s were built in Spain. Since the liberalisation of the electricity market, no new nuclear power plant has been planned in Spain.
The unresolved question of long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste has been a contentious issue. Compared to other European Union
countries, Spanish citizens generally show more negative attitudes towards the use of nuclear power.
Spanish Government
Spain is a constitutional monarchy whose government is defined by the Constitution of Spain. This was approved by a general referendum of the people of Spain in 1978...
to establish a national nuclear power
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
industry. In response to the surge in nuclear power plant plans, a strong anti-nuclear movement emerged in 1973, which ultimately impeded the realisation of most of the projects.
Conflict concerning the Lemóniz Nuclear Power Plant
Lemoniz Nuclear Power Plant
Lemoniz Nuclear Power Plant was a nuclear power plant under construction in Lemoniz, Spain in 1983 when the Spanish nuclear power expansion program was cancelled following a change of government...
in the Basque province of Vizcaya
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
was one of the major anti-nuclear issues in the 1970s and 1980s. Influenced by the civil opposition and the immense investment costs of the individual nuclear plant projects, the socialist government approved a moratorium in late March 1984, and ultimately only ten of the 37 originally planned commercial nuclear reactor
Nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Most commonly they are used for generating electricity and for the propulsion of ships. Usually heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid , which runs through turbines that power either ship's...
s were built in Spain. Since the liberalisation of the electricity market, no new nuclear power plant has been planned in Spain.
The unresolved question of long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste has been a contentious issue. Compared to other European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
countries, Spanish citizens generally show more negative attitudes towards the use of nuclear power.
See also
- Nuclear power in SpainNuclear power in SpainCurrently, Spain has eight nuclear reactors producing 20% of the country’s electricity or 7,448 net megawatts . Spain imports approximately 2% of its energy from France but exports the same amount to Portugal....
- List of anti-nuclear power groups
- List of books about nuclear issues
- List of nuclear whistleblowers
- List of Nuclear-Free Future Award recipients
- Renewable energy in SpainRenewable energy in SpainRenewable energy in Spain represented 12.5% of total energy generation in 2009. Spain has set the target of generating 20% of its energy needs from renewable energy sources by 2020....
- Wind power in SpainWind power in SpainSpain is the world's fourth biggest producer of wind power, after China, the United States and Germany, with an installed capacity of 19,959 megawatts at the end of 2010, a rise of 1,609 MW for the year...