Vandellós I Temporary Storage: Environmental Approval and Key Insights for the Nuclear Sector

Key data

The decommissioning process of the Vandellós I nuclear power plant takes a decisive step forward: the Dirección General de Calidad y Evaluación Ambiental has issued a favourable environmental impact declaration (EIA) for the construction of a temporary storage facility at the installation, currently in its latency phase. The resolution, published in the BOE on 2 April 2026 with reference BOE-A-2026-7539, sets out the conditions under which the project may be carried out.

Without this favourable EIA, construction of the storage facility could not proceed. Its approval unlocks a key element in the Vandellós I decommissioning roadmap, albeit subject to a set of mandatory environmental conditions.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution issues the favourable EIA for the project entitled "Construction of a temporary storage facility at the Vandellós I nuclear installation in its latency phase". The storage facility is intended exclusively for the management of radioactive waste generated during the plant's decommissioning process.

The EIA is not a blank authorisation: it imposes specific conditions that the project must meet before and during its execution. These conditions are structured around four areas:

Additionally, the project must comply with all applicable nuclear and radiological safety regulations, which apply in parallel and independently of the environmental conditions set out in the EIA.

Economic and operational impact

The approval of the EIA has direct operational consequences for ENRESA and for the Vandellós I decommissioning schedule:

• Unblocking the construction project: Without the favourable EIA, construction of the temporary storage facility could not begin. Its approval allows planning and tendering of the works to move forward.
• Mandatory compliance conditions: The four areas of conditions (waste, natural environment, hydrology and environmental monitoring) generate additional operational and investment obligations for the project promoter.
• Dual regulatory compliance: The project must simultaneously satisfy the environmental conditions of the EIA and nuclear and radiological safety regulations, requiring coordination between different regulatory bodies.
• Territorial implications: The resolution has effects on land management in the Tarragona area, with potential impact on urban and environmental planning by local authorities.

From the perspective of the decommissioning process, this EIA represents an administrative milestone that advances the roadmap for the final closure of Vandellós I, an installation that has been in its latency phase for years while awaiting completion of the necessary procedures for its safe decommissioning.

Who is affected?

• ENRESA (Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos): As the operator of Vandellós I, it is the primary party affected. It must comply with all EIA conditions and coordinate the project with nuclear safety regulatory bodies.
• Local authorities in the Tarragona area: The resolution has implications for land management and may require coordination on urban and environmental planning matters.
• Residents and communities surrounding the installation: Affected by the environmental and territorial implications of the project, with the right to follow developments through the public participation mechanisms provided for in environmental regulations.
• Nuclear sector contractors: Companies involved in the construction and operation of the storage facility will be required to comply with the technical and environmental conditions established in the EIA.
• Regulatory bodies: The Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear (CSN) and other bodies with competence in radiological safety play an active role in supervising regulatory compliance in parallel with the EIA.

Practical example

Suppose ENRESA initiates the tendering process for the construction of the temporary storage facility following the approval of this EIA. Before awarding the works, it will need to demonstrate to the competent authorities that the construction project incorporates all the conditions imposed by the resolution:

• The project's waste management plan must detail how the radioactive waste generated during decommissioning will be handled, in compliance with the specific conditions of the EIA.
• The engineering project must include the hydrological measures required to protect water resources in the Tarragona area.
• An environmental monitoring programme must be established, including indicators, measurement frequency and reporting mechanisms to the environmental authority.
• In parallel, the Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear must validate that the project complies with applicable nuclear and radiological safety regulations, in an independent but simultaneous regulatory process.

Only once all these requirements have been accredited can physical construction of the storage facility begin. The approved EIA is therefore a necessary but not sufficient condition: it is the first major administrative milestone in a process that requires multiple authorisations.

What should companies do now?

1. ENRESA: review the EIA conditions in detail. The resolution sets out specific conditions in four areas (waste, natural environment, hydrology and environmental monitoring). Each must be incorporated into the construction project before works begin.
2. Update the construction project. The technical team must verify that the engineering project incorporates all the measures required by the EIA and that these are compatible with the CSN's nuclear safety requirements.
3. Coordinate with local authorities in Tarragona. The territorial implications of the resolution may require proactive communication with local councils and regional bodies in the area.
4. Establish the environmental monitoring programme. The EIA requires environmental monitoring during the construction and operation of the storage facility. The programme must be designed before works begin.
5. Contractors: verify compliance requirements. Companies bidding for the project tender must be familiar with the EIA conditions, as these will form part of the technical specifications of the contract.
6. Local authorities: review territorial implications. The construction of the storage facility may have effects on urban and environmental planning in the surrounding area. It is advisable to analyse the scope of the resolution from a land management perspective.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-7539