Government approves deal on life extension of nuclear reactors

The deal with Engie to extend the life of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 nuclear reactors has been given the green light by the government, Energy minister Tinne Van der Straeten said on Wednesday.

"The documents can now be sent to the European Commission for approval. A colossal amount of work has been done over the past few months so that we can regain control of our energy production," Van der Straeten told Radio 1.

The 10-year extension has been translated into a legal framework. A council of ministers will meet later today to give the green light to the 1,500-page text. It will then go to the Council of State and then to Parliament.

Energy security

According to Van der Straeten, Belgium is on track to guarantee energy security for the winter of 2025-26. "There is also an agreement to triple the number of windmills at sea and to increase the capacity of batteries tenfold in order to be able to store this electricity," she said.

The agreement will lead to the creation of Hedera, a public body that will ensure the financial management of nuclear liabilities and control spending. This includes 15 billion euros for nuclear waste management and 6 billion euros for the decommissioning of former sites.

Van der Straeten also said the nuclear phase-out law would be adapted to the life extension of Doel 4 and Tihange 3. Implementing another 10-year life extension, recently proposed by prime minister Alexander De Croo, is up to a different government, she said.

 

© BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM

Get updates in your mailbox

By clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy.

About belganewsagency.eu

Belga News Agency delivers dependable, rapid and high-quality information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from Belgium and abroad to all Belgian media. The information covers all sectors, from politics, economics and finance to social affairs, sports and culture, not to mention entertainment and lifestyle.

Every day, our journalists and press photographers produce hundreds of photos and news stories, dozens of online information items, plus audio and video bulletins, all in both national languages. Since the end of March 2022 English has been added as a language.

For public institutions, businesses and various organisations that need reliable information, Belga News Agency also offers a comprehensive range of corporate services to meet all their communication needs.

Contact

Arduinkaai 29 1000 Brussels

www.belganewsagency.eu