Spanish Nuclear Plant To Close In 2006

MADRID, July 27 (AFP) - Spain's nuclear plant at Zorita, about 60 kilometres (40 miles) north east of Madrid will close at the end of April 2006, a spokesman for operator Union Fenosa said Tuesday.
The facility, the third-biggest Spanish electricity producer had initially appealed against in 2002 a decision by the finance ministry to close the plant on April 30, 2006, but revealed it had withdrawn the appeal without stating why.
In appealing, the firm had insisted that the plant could function safely through to 2008.
Zorita is Spain's oldest plant having opened in 1968. It generates about two percent of the country's nuclear-based electricity.
A further six "first generation" Spanish plants will remain in operation, though Spanish nuclear energy production, at just under one third of overall energy production, remains relatively small scale compared with neighbouring states such as France.
Environment groups, including Greenpeace, had repeatedly called for the the plant to be closed on safety grounds after a several reported breakdowns.