Calls for nuclear power also heard in EP debate on Spain blackout

Strasbourg, May 7 (CTK special correspondent) - Today’s debate in the European Parliament on lessons from the massive power outage on the Iberian Peninsula turned into a dispute between supporters of nuclear power and advocates of renewable energy. The debate also featured heated attacks between Spain’s left and right, as well as calls for better interconnection between transmission systems and improvements to the EU energy market. There were also calls for the European Commission to ensure an independent investigation into the causes of the blackout on April 28, which Spanish authorities have yet to announce. The outage claimed ten lives.

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen acknowledged that the investigation’s findings are still awaited, but said it was already possible to draw the lesson that Europe must be prepared for crises. "Integration is essential above all, so that everyone can benefit from the single market. The EC will present a package of proposals addressing the most urgent problems facing energy networks," he promised. At the same time, he called for further investment in clean energy sources to ensure more affordable energy for Europeans. "We must build a strong energy union with stronger interconnections, greater integration and more investment," he said.

"The incident reflects the growing complexity of systems and the need to strengthen cooperation. It has shown that interconnectors linking energy networks help mitigate the effects of outages," said Polish Minister for European Affairs Adam Szlapka, whose country holds the EU Council presidency this half-year.

He said it was essential to improve the resilience of critical infrastructure, including against physical and cyberattacks.

"Spain was not only not green, it also had no lights," Christian Democrat Dolors Montserrat said of the results of the energy transition under left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

According to the MEP speaking on behalf of the European People’s Party, the collapse was no accident, but a predetermined and inevitable failure caused by the shutdown of nuclear power plants.

Other speakers from the Spanish right similarly stressed that the country on the Iberian Peninsula had been plunged into darkness by political failure and the "green obsession" or "dogmatic environmentalism" of those in power. "Who is responsible for 18 hours of chaos and ten deaths? No one! Sánchez has provided no explanation," said Jorge Buxadé. "When the grid collapsed, renewables did not save it. We also need nuclear and hydropower plants," said Diego Solier.

"This is an obsession; you are attacking Spain’s interests! Renewable energy is an essential part of Spain’s future," countered Socialist Nicolás González Casares.

"Spain has not shut down a single nuclear power plant under Sánchez," he said, accusing his opponents of merely wanting to take money from taxpayers’ pockets for the benefit of large energy companies. "Only renewables can lead to energy sovereignty. We have neither uranium nor gas. Betting on clean sources will free us from dependence on foreign countries," stressed Diana Riba i Giner, who represents the Spanish Greens in the EP.

Austrian MEP Anna Stürgkh also condemned the use of the blackout in political battles. She said it had shown that, in addition to renewables, Europe needs electricity storage facilities and investment in transmission networks. Thanks to existing interconnectors, France was able to help its neighbours across the Pyrenees immediately. "France managed to prevent the outages from spreading across Europe," said French MEP Christophe Grudler, who said the "energy mix" of renewables and nuclear power had proved its worth.

"We need reliable electricity supplies from coal-fired and nuclear power plants. This is the path we must take!" stressed German MEP of Czech origin Petr Bystroň, from the Alternative for Germany (AfD).