Status of the nuclear sector in Spain Situación del sector nuclear en Espa a

Spain began to show interest in nuclear energy in the late 1940’s. In 1964 the Nuclear Energy Law was approved, and in 1972 the Nuclear and Radioactive Sites Regulation was developed. Safety and regulation activities were entrusted to the Nuclear Safety Council (Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear) created in 1980, and the research and management of radioactive waste to the National Radioactive Waste Company (Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos), created in 1985. The structure of Spain’s nuclear industry began to be created in the 1960’s, as a consequence of the decision to build the nuclear power plants of José Cabrera, Santa María de Garo a and Vandellós I. In the next stage, during the 1970’s, the Almaraz, Ascó and Cofrentes Nuclear Power Plants were built. During the third stage, in the 1980’s, the Vandellós II and Trillo I Nuclear Power Plants were built. Nowadays, the expert and efficient Spanish nuclear industry is a guarantee that nuclear technology is maintained in Spain, and not only to support the operating plants but also a reactivated international nuclear market. Spain has the necessary infrastructure, the technical capacity, the financial resources and the companies’ willpower in a common effort to provide Spaniards with reliable, cheap and sustainable electric energy that respects the environment and guarantees security for citizens. Nuclear energy is, definitively, a key component today and in the future. Espa a comenzó a interesarse por la energía nuclear a finales de los a os cuarenta. En el a o 1964 se aprobó la Ley de Energía Nuclear, y en el a o 1972 se desarrolló el Reglamento de Instalaciones Nucleares y Radiactivas. Las actividades de seguridad y regulación se encomendaron al Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear, creado en 1980, y la investigación y gestión de los residuos radiactivos a la Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos (ENRESA), creada en 1985. La estructura industrial nuclear en Espa a comenzó a desarrollarse en los a os sesenta, como consecuencia de la decisión de construir las centrales nucleares de José Cabrera, Santa María de Garo a y Vandellós I. En la siguiente etapa, en la década de los a os setenta, se construyeron las centrales de Almaraz, Ascó y Cofrentes. Durante la tercera etapa, en la década de los a os ochenta, se construyeron las centrales de Vandellós II y Trillo I. Actualmente, la industria nuclear espa ola, experta y eficaz, es garantía de que la tecnología nuclear se conserva en Espa a no solo para apoyar a las centrales nucleares en operación, sino para atender un mercado nuclear reactivado a nivel internac