Belgium Gov’t Plans To Acquire Engie-Operated Nuclear Power Plants By October 1

Belgium’s government has said it is planning to buy its nuclear reactors from French power giant Engie in order to secure the country’s energy supplies, the BBC reported, citing Prime Minister Bart De Wever.

The government hopes for “a full takeover” of the nuclear fleet, including Belgium’s seven ageing nuclear reactors.

The move would also mean suspending plans to decommission nuclear operations in Belgium.

“This government is choosing safe, affordable, and sustainable energy, with less dependence on fossil fuel imports and more control over our own supply,” De Wever posted on X.

The move would reverse the phase-out of nuclear energy legislation approved in the early 2000s amid safety concerns, which prohibited the building of new nuclear power plants and limited the operating lifetimes of existing ones to 40 years.

Only two of Belgium’s seven nuclear reactors are currently operational—located at plants in Doel and Tihange—and their operating licences were recently extended until 2035.

The other five reactors were shut down between 2022 and 2025, and plans to dismantle them will now be suspended.

Engie and the government said they aim to reach an agreement on the takeover of the nuclear stations by 1 October.

In a joint statement with Engie, the Belgian government said the move also highlights its aim to extend the operations of existing nuclear reactors and to develop “new nuclear capacity” in Belgium.

“By doing so, the Belgian government is taking responsibility for Belgium’s long-term energy future, with the objective of building a financially and economically viable activity that supports security of supply, climate objectives, industrial resilience, and socio-economic prosperity,” the statement added.

Belgium is one of a number of European countries revising their nuclear strategy, making a complete U-turn after years of reluctance to invest in nuclear energy.

All seven nuclear reactors had at one point been set to close by 2025.

The reactors have long been controversial. They have been shut down repeatedly for safety checks and have sparked concerns in neighbouring countries.

Tensions flared in 2015 when plans to use the reactors beyond their 40-year design life were met with complaints from cities across nearby borders.

The German city of Aachen even began offering iodine tablets to residents in 2017 over safety fears about the reactors at Tihange, following closures due to cracks and water leaks.