The ambition to phase out nuclear power in 2025 has come up against the reality of the geopolitical situation.
Belgium had planned to phase out nuclear power in 2025. On March 18, however, the government decided to review its decision. This Friday, a “agreement in principle” was announced between the Belgian State and the French group Engie to extend the life of the power plants by ten years, to 2035 therefore. This new framework provides that two of the seven Belgian reactors, Doel 4 and Tihange 3, “restart in November 2026”subject to the approval of the safety authorities, after a shutdown for review from 2025.
For four months, Engie has explained that it wants to share the bill to operate the two reactors beyond 2025. Even today, the group evokes the “potential extension of two nuclear units”claiming to have signed a “non-binding letter of intent” with the Belgian State. However, the conditions seem to be in place to give him satisfaction. Indeed, the last two Belgian power stations will be managed by “a new company to create”presented on the Belgian side as “a stable and sustainable structure in which the Belgian State and Engie share the risks as well as the benefits”. Engie specifies that the capital of the new company will be divided 50/50 between the two shareholders. This extension is explained by the new geopolitical context. The Belgian State had planned to offset nuclear energy with gas power plants, which is much more uncertain with the war launched by Russia against Ukraine.
Both parties intend to achieve “to a final agreement by the end of the year and submit it to the European Commission”Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten said.