First stage of Spanish nuclear power plants
Questions and answers

First stage of Spanish nuclear power plants

At the beginning of the construction plans for nuclear power plants in Spain, the Administration had the right legislation to promote the use of national products and local manufacturing of components.

The nuclear power plants from the First Stage are José Cabrera, Santa María de Garoña and Vandellós I

The grade of nationalization of a nuclear power plant was fixed through an agreement between promoters and the Public Administration, which established on the corresponding Construction Authorization a set of minimal goals to meet for the different sets of equipment, equivalent to the country’s existing industrial structure.

What nuclear power plants were part of this first stage?

The nuclear power plants from the First Stage are José Cabrera, Santa María de Garoña and Vandellós I. They were built “key-in-hand” with international technologists, given the industry’s lack of experience at the time. The technology from these sites is what’s known as First Generation of nuclear reactors.

Participation from the local industry in the most advanced and specifically nuclear areas of technologies was null or very scarce

First stage of Spanish nuclear power plants
José Cabrera nuclear power plant (currently being dismantled)

What was the percentage of participation from the Spanish Nuclear Industry?

National participation in these projects was fixed at a minimum of 36%, though eventually it jointly reached 43%: very elevated in Civil Works and Assemblies (70 to 80%), slightly over 60% in Engineering; quite high in Training; and lower than 25% in Equipment Goods (Source: “CEIDEN: Capacidades españolas para afrontar un nuevo proyecto nuclear”, in Spanish).

Participation from the local industry in the most advanced and specifically nuclear areas of technologies was null or very scarce. This relatively low participation in the supply of nuclear equipment, however, helped Spanish technicians to become familiar with the requirements and specifications of the nuclear industry.

First stage of Spanish nuclear power plants
Santa María de Garoña nuclear power plant
First stage of Spanish nuclear power plants
Vandellós I nuclear power plant (currently being dismantled)
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