The municipalities with the highest income in Extremadura are around the Almaraz power plant

The towns that are located near the Almaraz nuclear power plant in Extremadura occupy the first positions on the income scale of Extremadura. This is reflected in the income atlas by municipality released on Tuesday by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

The Cáceres municipality of Almarazwith an average gross income of 16,641 euros per year per person, is the one with the highest average income recorded in the entire community. Closely, they follow Romangordo (16,620 euros), Belvis de Monroy (15,406 euros), Campillo de Deleitosa (15,348 euros), Albalat Fig Tree (15,348 euros) and Valdecañas de Tajo (15,348 euros).

These six municipalities in Cáceres are located in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant and are affected by the economic impact generated by the installation in the region. Within the ten towns with the highest income in Extremadura, they complete the list Saint Anne (15,071 euros), Caceres (15,017 euros), DownloadMaria (14,781 euros) and Houses of Miravete (14,567 euros).

The six towns around the nuclear power plant have an average income of around 15,785 euros, which significantly exceed the average for Extremadura (11,505 euros) and the capitals of its two provinces: Cáceres (15,017 euros) and Badajoz (13,957). Specifically, the average income of these towns is 37% higher than the Extremadura average, 9.5% higher than that of Cáceres and 10.3%.

The Almaraz plant has been in the media spotlight for several days due to the request for an extension of its activity that the owner companies are preparing. The energy companies want extend the activity of the facility at least until 2030, but the Government’s calendar foresees the closure of its two reactors between 2027 and 2028.

According to a recent report by the consulting firm Metyis, the closure of the plant would entail losses of 829 million euros in gross added value and the disappearance of 15,000 jobs in Spain, 4,000 of them in Extremadura. Organizations such as Fedea have shown themselves in favor of reviewing the closure schedule to extend the useful life of the complex.

Estimates suggest that Almaraz produces 7% of the electricity consumed nationally and provides more than 1,000 direct or indirect jobs in its area of ​​influence. In the fiscal area, the contribution to the public coffers is 435 million euros in taxes and fees, of which 82 million go to the public coffers of Extremadura.