Belgium To Scrap Nuclear Phase-Out Plan

---

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Belgium has voted to scrap plans to phase out nuclear power in the interests of energy security.

The country's parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour--108 to eight--of repealing a 2003 decision for the gradual phaseout of nuclear energy, opening the way for the country to extend the life of existing plants and build new ones. According to the original 2003 law, Belgium should have shut its last reactors this year, but in 2022, as reported by Industrial Info, the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022 prompted Belgium to extend its nuclear energy reliance by 10 years, offsetting closures. Nuclear power accounts for around 40% of the country's electricity. In early 2024, Belgium's government signed an agreement with French energy company Engie S.A. (Paris, France) to extend the life of two of its nuclear plants by 10 years. It stipulated that the newer Tihange 3 and Doel 4 nuclear reactors would have another decade of operation and continue to supply 2 gigawatts (GW) of electricity until 2035. The plants were originally scheduled to be shut down in 2025. For additional information, see January 11, 2024, article - Belgium Extends Life for Two Nuclear Reactors. Industrial Info is tracking four projects worth US$125 million. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the reports.

After the vote, the government stated: "This day will go down in history as a turning point in Belgian energy history. By approving with a large majority the law that heralds the return of nuclear energy in our country, the federal parliament leaves behind two decades of blockages and hesitations to pave the way for a realistic and resilient energy model. By opening the door to new nuclear capacity, the government confirms its desire to strengthen our energy independence, guarantee competitive prices and accelerate the decarbonisation of our production."

"Belgium is finally giving itself the means to guarantee an energy mix that is based on today's reality," added Energy Minister Bihet. "It is no longer a matter of pitting energy sources against each other in a binary and sterile way, but of using them pragmatically and complementary."

The decision was welcomed by the nuclear industry. "The amendment to the nuclear shutdown law does not only allow the construction of new reactors, but also the replacement of the fixed shutdown calendar with a system of 10-yearly safety reviews, as recommended by IAEA," said Peter Baeten, Director-General of SCK CEN, Belgium's nuclear research organisation. "At this point, however, it is too early to comment on what the practical impact might be on our work, but our focus remains unchanged: contributing to reliable, safe and sustainable nuclear solutions."

The group added: "With the recent amendment to the [2003] law, this ban has been relaxed: the construction of new nuclear reactors is once again possible, and the strict age limit for existing reactors has also been eased. Belgium may once again opt for nuclear energy. This not only makes the target of 4 GW of nuclear capacity achievable, but also opens up opportunities for emerging technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs). The amendment to the law thus marks a clear change of direction in our country's energy policy."

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).