Jordi Sevilla
Former Socialist Party minister and Context Director at LLYC"We are making a mistake by closing nuclear power plants"
Jordi Sevilla is currently Context Director and head of the Intelligence Unit at the consulting firm LLYC, where he analyzes the political, economic, and social landscape. Throughout his career, he has held prominent positions such as Minister of Public Administration in Spain, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Economy and Finance, head of the economic team for the Socialist candidate for Prime Minister, and President of Red Eléctrica de España, the Spanish electricity utility. In this interview, he explains the need for nuclear energy because it is “clean, cheap, and ensures supply,” and his belief that “there is still time to correct the mistake of closing nuclear power plants.”
In your study "Nuclear power to consolidate a clean energy transition," you state that closing nuclear power plants in Spain would be a serious mistake. What led you to this conclusion?
I was among those who, years ago, developed the electoral program for PSOE [Spain's Socialist Party], which included nuclear phase-out. At that time, national and international circumstances were totally unrelated to the current energy situation.
Making a decision that, at this moment, makes us the only country in the world shutting down nuclear plants—while all others are considering investing in new ones because they are clean, cheap, and provide the stability needed for a reliable electricity supply—is something that only we are doing. This means we are making a mistake, but there is still time to correct it. I believe the government still has time to change course, and we should call on them to do so.
"We are the only country in the world that is shutting down its nuclear power plants"
As someone who has held high-level positions and led a ministry, how do you think this issue could be addressed?
The first thing is to clearly understand the government's position. I don’t fully grasp it, because every time they speak on the subject, all they refer to is an agreement between a private and a public company, without providing any further explanation. If the government continues to support the closure, what are their arguments? Why do they want to close them? What I have heard so far are not serious arguments. They say, “We prefer renewables.” But nuclear and renewables are complementary.
The latest National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) envisions up to 80% of Spain's electricity supply coming from renewables. If so, then who will provide the remaining 20%? That’s precisely what nuclear power plants currently cover—they are clean and provide stability. Are we going back to depending on international prices and gas imports just to close nuclear plants? Why? When you analyze the full reasoning, it becomes even more absurd that we have found ourselves in an unexplainable situation that will harm the country and could eventually become irreversible. This worries me.
"There is no explanation for shutting down the nuclear fleet"
What steps should be taken?
First, we extend the operating life of nuclear power plants by ten more years. Second, we convene plant owners to negotiate the conditions under which they will ensure a profitable and market-driven electricity supply. Third, we request a report from the Nuclear Safety Council to oversee the necessary investments and modifications to ensure that our nuclear power plants remain safe for the next ten years. Problem solved.
Should Red Eléctrica also weigh in on this issue? Since you were President from 2018 to 2020, what do you think?
Yes, they should. The problem is that it is not the same to ask Red Eléctrica for a report on the specific closure of Almaraz I as it is to request a report on the impact of shutting down the entire nuclear fleet. If they were asked for a report—which I believe the government should do—on what the consequences of eliminating nuclear power would be for our electricity system, without any pressure on the content or outcome, I have no doubt that the system operator's recommendation would be “it is better not to shut them down."
“I am sure a report from the system operator (Red Eléctrica) would recommend keeping nuclear plants open”
Nuclear power plant owners are calling for a reduction in their tax burden. Is this burden higher than that applied to other energy sources?
Just look at how, in recent years, renewables have been subsidized—including tax incentives—while, over the past five years, the tax burden penalizing nuclear power has increased by 60%. This comes from the old leftist idea of so-called “windfall profits.” According to this theory, nuclear plants, because they are already amortized, should be penalized. It was actually just a way to make nuclear power economically unviable.
“The European Union has classified nuclear power as a clean energy”
In a context where the European Union has officially recognized nuclear power as a clean energy and the new European Vice President, Teresa Ribera, has acknowledged that nuclear power is necessary in Europe, I ask: Why not in Spain? Why is nuclear power necessary in the rest of Europe but not here? And why do the same companies considering nuclear investments elsewhere in the world find it unprofitable in Spain? The only variable is the tax burden they face here.
The government must sit down with companies to define an economic framework that makes nuclear energy generation profitable.
Your study examines the need for nuclear power plants to remain operational. What are the advantages?
Shutting down the nuclear fleet creates uncertainty and doubt. Keeping it open—postponing the closures—would provide stability. We would continue to ensure 20% of electricity demand and maintain supply security. Without nuclear power we would have to rely on gas, which produces CO₂ emissions and makes us dependent on foreign prices.
If European and Spanish goals are to reduce CO₂ emissions, lower energy prices to enhance economic competitiveness, and ensure greater energy independence, nuclear power meets all three criteria. So why shut it down? That is the question everyone should be asking the government. Why shut down nuclear power plants? Why is Spain the only country considering it? What is the reason? I do not know the answer.
“The government must explain why it wants to shut down nuclear power plants”
The context has changed so much that holding onto positions from 40 years ago for purely ideological reasons reflects poorly on those who continue to do so. I am convinced that if the government extended the operating life of nuclear power plants today, the vast majority of Socialist Party members would agree.
What has driven this change?
No one foresaw this, but in the past ten years Europe and Spain have undergone radical shifts in their strategic priorities. Just five or six years ago we were totally happy with Russian gas, we had a trade surplus with the United States and China and there were no risks in having a supply chain spread throughout the world.
“Over the past decade, Europe's and Spain's strategic priorities have radically changed"
Today, we seek strategic energy autonomy to reduce dependence on gas and oil imports. Today, Europe’s economy is losing ground to the U.S. and China, making electricity costs crucial for competitiveness. Today, we are committed to fighting climate change and reducing CO₂ emissions—and nuclear power, as a clean energy source, helps reach that goal.
"We must call on the government to adapt to change and extend the operation of nuclear power plants"
We are not asking the government to abandon past commitments but to adapt to the new strategic landscape in Europe and the world. This is what Keynes said. When there are turns ahead I turn the wheel. What do you do? Do you keep going straight and crash? The government needs to turn the wheel to avoid swerving off the road. Turning the wheel means extending the operation of nuclear power plants.
Are you optimistic?
I am optimistic because this is a critical issue for Spain—far more than it seems. I believe that most Spaniards, including socialists and Socialist Party voters, would actually feel reassured knowing nuclear plants will extend their operational life and we will be able to rely on them for longer.
“Shutting down nuclear power plants is an unnecessary mistake that will harm Spain's economy”
Failing to change course and allowing this to become irreversible would be an unnecessary mistake that will seriously damage Spain’s economy.
Any final thoughts?
I would like the government to clearly explain its stance on nuclear energy, and why it believes Spain can do without it.
“I would like the government to explain why it believes Spain can do without nuclear energy”
I would also like Spain's social, political, industrial and economic sectors to explicitly express their stance on this issue, because we are talking about families, households, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), businesses, regions and workers. I believe we should start creating a certain wave —a tsunami— of public expression where people clearly state their position on nuclear energy. I can understand that some may prefer to shut them down, but they will have to explain why.
