Ascó licence extension confirmed

Tuesday, 27 September 2011 A ten-year licence extension for the two units at the Ascó nuclear power plant has been confirmed by Spanish minister of industry, tourism and trade Miguel Sebastien. The ministerial approval follows unanimous approval from the country's regulator, the Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear (CSN), which submitted a report based on technical reports and inspections carried out during the plant's current ten-year licence to the ministry in August. The licence will allow the plant to operate until 2021. Ascó is operated by Endesa-Iberdrola joint venture company Asociación Nuclear Ascó-Vandellós II (ANAV). The move follows a similar ten-year licence extension for the Cofrentes plant by the ministry in March this year.