The Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism of Spain has rejected Endesa's request to close its 400 MW Colon gas-fired CCGT power plant, commissioned in 2006 and located in Huelva, until electricity transmission network operator REE strengthens the grid in southern Spain. The company had applied in July 2014, citing economic reasons and low utilisation rates in a context of low demand and competition from renewables, making the plant's operation economically unviable.
The decision comes just after the Ministry approved the closure of one 300 MW unit of the 1,200 MW Compostilla thermal power plant, also operated by Endesa. Other companies have applied with the Ministry to close thermal power plants, including the 520 MW Foix gas- and oil-fired power plant, Viesgo's 395 MW Tarragona CCGT power plant, the second unit of the Soto de Ribera coal-fired power plant (254 MW) operated by EDP and the Elcogas power plant. Iberdrola had received the approval to shut down its Castellon CCGT plant, but eventually decided to keep it operational.
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