Overview

In Spain there are currently 8 LWR reactors (6 PWR and 2 BWR) operated by 2 utilities, ENDESA and Iberdrola. Zorita closed at the end of April 2006. It is not intended to reprocess spent fuel, apart from a small amount of early experimental material. Decommissioning of Vandellos-1 began in April 1999........

The Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) is the sole, independent, regulatory body in Spain,

ENRESA's programme is defined in the General Radioactive Waste Plan (PGRR) which must be submitted yearly to the Ministry of Industry and Energy (MINER) for its approval........

Spain divides wastes into 2 categories..........L/ILW is minimized at the power plants. Since 1992, it has been disposed of at El Cabril, on the site of a former uranium mine, 400 Km south of Madrid.........

In December 2004, however, the recently-elected government passed a new resolution which instructed ENRESA to draw up a plan for the development of a centralised interim storage facility for spent fuel.......

A voluntary process began in June 2006...............