María Jesús Lapeira
Spokesperson for "Mujeres por Almaraz" (Women for Almaraz)“Almaraz provides jobs, prosperity and stability and helps keep people in the region"
María Jesús Lapeira, an engineer working at the Almaraz nuclear power plant in the Spanish autonomous community of Extremadura, is the spokesperson for "Mujeres por Almaraz" (Women for Almaraz), a grassroots group of 2,000 women from the Campo Arañuelo region (Cáceres) campaigning to keep the plant in operation and prevent its closure. In this interview with Foro Nuclear, she explains that behind the campaign to support Almaraz are thousands of families who want to continue living, working and building their future in the region.
How was "Women por Almaraz" founded, and what motivated you to organise as a group and become involved in this cause?
"Women for Almaraz" was created within the "Sí a Almaraz, sí al futuro" (Yes to Almaraz, yes to the future) platform, driven by a shared concern among women in our region. When the possibility of closing the plant began to be discussed, we realised that what was at stake was much more than an energy facility. It was also the future of our families, our children, our businesses and our towns.
We decided to step forward because we felt a responsibility to defend what is ours. The plant was originally built in a poor, sparsely populated area without consulting local residents. Today, thanks to Almaraz, thousands of people have built their lives here, and we want our voices to be heard. We want to show that women are an essential part of this region's present and future.
"Almaraz is much more than a nuclear power plant. It is also the future of our families, our children, our businesses and our town"
What professional and personal backgrounds are represented within the group?
The platform reflects the diversity of Campo Arañuelo. Our members include plant employees, business owners, self-employed professionals, farmers, teachers, healthcare workers, service-sector employees, students, retirees and homemakers.
We come from very different backgrounds, but we share the same concern for the future of our region and the conviction that Almaraz has been—and continues to be—a driving force for opportunity in our area. We represent different generations and life experiences, united by the desire to ensure that northern Extremadura continues to have a future.
"Almaraz is a driver of opportunity for our region"
What employment opportunities has the nuclear power plant created for women in the region over the years?
The plant has enabled many families to achieve stability and build their lives here. It has expanded employment opportunities for women not only through direct jobs, but also through all the economic activity generated around it.
Thanks to Almaraz, many women, including me, have been able to develop their careers without having to leave their families and their roots behind. We often talk about employment in general terms, but behind every job there are personal stories, opportunities and decisions to remain in this region.
"Behind every job there is a personal story. We want to stay in this region"
From your experience, how has Almaraz transformed life in the region?
The transformation has been enormous. The plant has driven economic growth, job creation, improved infrastructure and the development of services that have significantly enhanced local quality of life.
For more than 45 years, Almaraz has provided stability and opportunity. Its operation has enabled many families to settle here, pursue their ambitions and raise their children without having to leave in search of work elsewhere. It has also supported local businesses, hospitality, small companies and many of the services that form part of everyday life in our municipalities.
"The plant has driven economic growth, job creation, improved infrastructure and the development of services"
The plant is far more than an energy facility. It is part of the recent history of Extremadura and has been one of the pillars of our region's progress and prosperity. That is probably its greatest legacy.
What does your work at the plant mean to you, personally and professionally?
I came to Almaraz in 2004 when I was 26, with a strong commitment to nuclear energy. Almaraz has been the setting for my adult life, where I have grown both professionally and personally. As an engineer, working at the plant is both rewarding and intellectually enriching, and being able to live in a rural environment away from overcrowded cities is a privilege.
"Closing Almaraz would be a devastating blow to the region"
What would be the consequences for Campo Arañuelo of losing thousands of jobs associated with the plant?
Closing the plant would be a devastating blow to the region. Almaraz provides jobs, prosperity, stability and helps keep people in the area. It creates direct employment and supports countless businesses that depend on its activity—shops, hotels, restaurants, service providers and entire families whose livelihoods are linked to the plant in one way or another.
"Keeping the plant in operation is also an investment in territorial cohesion and in the future of Extremadura"
At Women for Almaraz we feel that what is at stake is much more than a commercial business. It is also the possibility of continuing to build a future here, ensure that young people can find opportunities close to home and keep our villages populated. That is why we believe that keeping the plant in operation is also a commitment to territorial cohesion and to the future of Extremadura.
What are young people telling you about their future?
Many young people share with us their uncertainty. They are young men and women who studied, who want to develop their careers here and raise families close to their loved ones, but who are deeply concerned about the potential consequences of closing down the plant.
They often tell us they do not want to be forced to leave in search of opportunities elsewhere. They want to stay, build their future here and contribute to the development of the region. This is a perfectly legitimate aspiration, and we should all reflect on what it would mean to lose an activity that has generated employment, stability and future prospects for decades.
"Young people want reasons to stay, and Almaraz is one of them"
Ultimately, when we speak with young people, we get one very simple message: they want reasons to stay. For many years, Almaraz has been one of those reasons.
Could you share any stories or experiences that have particularly stayed with you since launching this initiative?
One of the most memorable moments was when Ana Redondo, Spain's Minister for Equality received us in Madrid. She was very generous in meeting with us and listening to our concerns. The Minister, who comes from the autonomous community of Castilla y León, was well aware of the economic and social impact that the closure of the Garoña nuclear power plant had on the province of Burgos. Most of the plant's workforce had to leave. Some of my own colleagues were forced to relocate and start new lives in Almaraz. They had to leave their homes to secure a future—and now that future is once again at risk.
Did you expect such a positive public response to the movement in support of Almaraz?
We have been deeply moved by the response. We knew our concerns were widely shared, but the level of public mobilisation has exceeded all our expectations.
"We have been deeply moved by the public response. It shows that Almaraz is part of the identity and recent history of our region”
We have seen thousands of people, associations, businesses, institutions and local residents come together to defend the future of the region. This shows that Almaraz is much more than an energy facility—it is part of our region's identity and recent history.
How do your activities complement those of the "Yes to Almaraz, yes to the future" platform?
We share the same goal, and we see ourselves as part of a broad movement involving local residents, workers, business owners, associations and institutions. Our contribution is the perspective of many women who experience this reality from different walks of life and who wanted their voices to be heard as well. We believe that the more diverse the message, the better people will understand what Almaraz means for this region, for Extremadura and for Spain.
What would you like policymakers to understand about the reality women are facing in Campo Arañuelo?
We want our opinions to be taken into account. We want political decisions to reflect the will of the people, rather than being made unilaterally while ignoring the needs of local communities. Today, thanks to Almaraz, thousands of people have built their lives here. We want decision makers to understand that behind every decision there are real people with names and faces—families and young people who want an opportunity to remain here.
"We want political decisions to reflect the will of the people"
The women of Campo Arañuelo want to continue living and working in this region that is our home. We want our children to have opportunities here, and we want our towns to remain alive. We ask that decisions be made after listening to those of us who live with this reality every day and understand first-hand what is at stake. Extremadura's largest industry—which provides employment and helps retain population—should not be closed. Nor should it be closed while it is operating safely, meeting the highest nuclear safety standards and contributing to security of supply and affordable electricity prices.
Would you like to add anything?
We would like to thank the many local residents, organisations and institutions that have supported us. Defending Almaraz goes far beyond any individual interest—it is about the well-being of the entire province of Cáceres and, indeed, of Spain.
We will continue working to ensure that the voices of those who believe economic development, employment, sustainability and a strong future can go hand in hand are heard. For more than 45 years, Almaraz has been a story of progress, and we are convinced that it can continue to be so for many years to come.
