Russian War on Ukraine Pushes Belgium to Extend Nuclear Plants by 10 Years

Belgium’s ministerial committee has decided that the country’s nuclear energy plants will be extended until 2035 – ten years longer than had previously been planned.

Tihange Nuclear Power Plant. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Tihange Nuclear Power Plant. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Belgium’s ministerial committee has decided that the country’s nuclear energy plants will be extended until 2035 – ten years longer than had previously been planned.

At a recent press conference, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said: “It is necessary for Belgium to safeguard its own energy sovereignty – this is the driving factor behind our decision.”

Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten said: “Doel 4 et Tihange 3 reactors would together provide 2GW of electricity as a supplement to renewable energies. This would be sufficient to power approximately 1.5 million homes.” Tihange Nuclear Power Station is one of two nuclear energy production sites in Belgium.

With her party previously spearheading the push to phase out Belgium’s nuclear reactors, Van der Straeten was at pains to present this U-turn in policy as central to the country’s renewable ambitions. This latest development of the years-long debate about the future of Belgium’s nuclear capacity has divided political parties, with some protesting the government’s decision since three months ago, an agreement was secured to close reactors.

Given the current political crisis, the need to guarantee a stable and affordable energy supply is greater than ever, trumping previous concerns about the place of nuclear energy as Belgium pushes to expand its renewable energy capacity.

The agreement clearly states that the need for extended nuclear capacity will not be to the detriment of renewable energy plans. Van der Straeten outlined three pillars to transform energy provision:

  • Accelerating green energy output, with an emphasis on solar and wind
  • Reducing dependence on fossil fuels
  • Lowering energy bills

With these guiding principles, the minister expressed that the continuation of Belgium’s nuclear capacity was key to its longer-term objectives. In case of over-production, excess nuclear energy could be used for electrolysis to produce hydrogen – an energy source that Belgium has been eager to pioneer.

Although critics of nuclear energy had been vocal in their opposition, the transition towards renewable energy will be a decades-long process. Nuclear energy currently makes up close to 40% of the country’s energy mix.

Belgium had plans to compensate for the shortfall with new gas power stations, seen by some parties and countries as a direct contradiction to Europe’s efforts to decarbonise. Ever-increasing gas prices have highlighted the volatility of international markets, making it less advisable to increase dependence on fossil fuels.

Related: Nuclear New Builds 2022 

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