Press release
Foro Nuclear's position on the Royal Decree that increases the Enresa Fee
June 26, 2024Regarding the approval of Royal Decree 589/2024, which modifies the unit fixed rate for the non-tax public financial contribution that funds the services of the National Radioactive Waste Company (Enresa) to operational nuclear power plants (known as Enresa fee), Foro Nuclear wishes to express the following:
- This modification, which represents an increase of 2.38 euros per MWh produced compared to the current applicable rate, is completely unrelated to the operation of nuclear power plants. This increase is solely due to changes adopted in the 7th General Radioactive Waste Plan (approved by the Government of Spain in December 2023) due to a lack of consensus among the various institutions involved; thus, it is in no way attributable to the management of the nuclear power plants.
- For the approval of this Royal Decree, the Government of Spain did not consider any of the claims submitted in a timely and proper manner by the Spanish nuclear industry last April.
- The March 2019 agreement between the National Radioactive Waste Company (Enresa) and proprietor companies of Spanish nuclear power plants, which was sponsored by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and established the orderly and tiered cessation of nuclear units between November 2027 and May 2035, contemplated a maximum 20% increase of the rate value compared to the rate at that time, up to the current limit of 7.98 €/MWh.
- This newly approved increase of the Enresa fee will require an additional annual payment of 130 million euros starting July 1, on top of the annual 450 million euros that the Spanish nuclear fleet already contributes to the Enresa fund since March 2019.
- This situation, coupled with the disproportionate, discriminatory and suffocating fiscal burden, seriously threatens the continued operation of the Spanish nuclear fleet.
- At a time when numerous prestigious national and international institutions and countries with ongoing nuclear programs, especially within the European Union, are acknowledging the contribution of nuclear energy to the energy transition towards a decarbonized and sustainable world (economy), we find ourselves moving in the opposite direction.
- To ensure security of supply, greater energy independence and strategic autonomy, economic competitiveness for businesses and families and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions - as established in the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) - it is essential to have a non-CO2 emitting base/firm power in our electrical system, like that provided by Spanish nuclear power plants, without the hindrance of the fiscal pressure they face, now increased by the Enresa fee.
- We also wish to reiterate, as we have said on numerous occasions, that a longer-term operation of the nuclear fleet would lead to greater financial resources in the Enresa fund, which would significantly help finance the General Radioactive Waste Plan itself without needing to increase the Enresa fee.
