Spanish PM firm on phasing out nuclear power

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http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hULHxX21ff30iZdgcX9H7EMD1UUA

Spanish PM firm on phasing out nuclear power

MADRID (AFP) — Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Saturday he would not extend the life of Spain's ageing nuclear plants as he repeated his government's commitment to phasing out nuclear power.

"We are committed to respecting the normal life-span of the plants unless there are urgent energy needs, and to not building new nuclear plants," he said in an interview with top-selling daily El Pais.

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Licences for the plants are to expire between 2009 and 2011, before the government's mandate runs out in 2012.

Nuclear power is unpopular in Spain and the government has instead focused on developing renewable energy like wind and solar power.

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