BRUSSELS, 23/12 (Reuters) – The Belgian government on Thursday agreed in principle to shut down its nuclear power plants by 2025, but left open the option of extending the life of two reactors if it otherwise could not guarantee energy supplies.
The seven-party coalition has been wrestling with the issue for months, with the Greens insisting that a 2003 nuclear phase-out law be respected while the French-speaking Liberals advocate extending the life of the two newest reactors.
The government had set itself a deadline of the end of 2021 to resolve the matter.
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The two Belgian nuclear power plants with a total of seven reactors are operated by the French energy supplier Engie (ENGIE.PA) and account for almost half of the country’s electricity production.
After nightly talks, the ministers agreed on a compromise, according to which the last existing nuclear power plant should be closed in 2025 and join other countries such as Germany, which are also withdrawing from the technology.
However, Belgium has yet to figure out how to make up for the energy shortage and there is a problem. Approval was refused for the winner of a contract to build a gas-fired power plant north of Brussels.
The government will now wait until March 15 to see if the permit is granted and, if not, consider other options, including other contract bidders.
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said it was possible that certain nuclear reactors could remain in service for longer, but added that it was “very unlikely”.
Belgium will also invest € 100 million (US $ 113 million) over four years in nuclear technology research, with a focus on smaller modular reactors, and potentially working with France and the Netherlands.
The planned nuclear phase-out begins with the decommissioning of a reactor on October 1, 2022. The decommissioning, including the removal of all radioactive materials and the demolition of buildings, should be completed by 2045.
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Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop Editing by Mark Potter
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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