Technical, economic and social constraints during the erection of Ascó nuclear power plant

The need to increase its production capacity led FECSA to promote the construction of a two-unit nuclear power plant on the banks of the Ebro River. Apart from the usual economic challenges of a project of this magnitude, there were also the technical difficulties of an evolving technology. In addition, the promoters faced opposition from the local rural community and from the strong Spanish and international social-political convulsion. Solving these challenges has allowed the plant to have a long and successful operational life. This paper aims to show how these difficulties were addressed, contributing to the guarantee of power in the region and to the improvement of economic and social conditions in the geographical area where it was installed.