May 21, 2025
Belgian parliament greenlights additional nuclear capacity and extends operational lifetimes.
Belgium's parliament has overturned plans to completely eliminate nuclear power, voting to permit the construction of new nuclear facilities and to extend the operation of the Tihange-3 and Doel-4 reactors until 2045. The vote on May 15 passed 102-8 with 31 abstentions, allowing these reactors, which have outputs of 1,094 MW and 1,090 MW respectively, to operate for an additional decade.
Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet remarked that the parliament moved past two decades of indecision to establish a practical and resilient energy strategy. The Belgian Nuclear Forum described the vote as a shift from a long-standing law that hindered nuclear development in the country to one that supports it.
Previously, a coalition government agreement with the Green party in 2003 prohibited the construction of new reactors and aimed to close all existing ones by the end of 2025, later postponed to 2035. A new coalition formed on January 31 announced in February plans to extend Tihange-3 and Doel-4's operation to 2045 and allow new nuclear development, solidified by the May 15 vote.
Voters in the upcoming 2024 elections showed support for parties advocating nuclear energy, which impacted anti-nuclear Green politicians. The disruptions to fossil fuel supplies from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, along with concerns about rising energy prices and grid instability from renewable reliance, reduced opposition to nuclear power.
The Belgian Nuclear Forum indicated that the vote demonstrates the government's understanding that a mix of renewable and nuclear energy is essential to meet energy demands without relying on high-CO2 fossil fuels. They emphasized the need for a long-term energy policy based on realism and facts, considering this vote a preliminary step towards reviving nuclear power.
Currently, Tihange-3 and Doel-4 are Belgium's only operational reactors. Doel-3 was shut down on September 23, 2022, followed by Tihange-2 on January 31, 2023. Other reactors, including Doel-1, Doel-2, and Tihange-1, are set to close by the end of 2025 and are currently operating below their capacities. The May 15 vote does not alter the closure timeline for these units.
Engie, which holds 89.8% ownership of the reactors through its Belgian subsidiary Electrabel, and the Belgian government signed an agreement in 2023 to extend Tihange-3 and Doel-4's operations to 2035. Engie's CEO, Vincent Verbeke, stated in January that it would be "unthinkable" to keep the reactors running past that date. Since 2021, Engie has been focusing its investments on renewable energy and natural gas, moving away from nuclear power.
As of May 18, nuclear energy contributed 55.3% to Belgium's power mix, with renewables like wind and solar making up 27.5%. Mark Nelson, a nuclear engineer, commented that the proposed nuclear phaseout would have resulted in a severe loss of electricity supply and welcomed the legal abolition of the plan, although he warned that finding a new operator post-2035 could be challenging.
Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet remarked that the parliament moved past two decades of indecision to establish a practical and resilient energy strategy. The Belgian Nuclear Forum described the vote as a shift from a long-standing law that hindered nuclear development in the country to one that supports it.
Previously, a coalition government agreement with the Green party in 2003 prohibited the construction of new reactors and aimed to close all existing ones by the end of 2025, later postponed to 2035. A new coalition formed on January 31 announced in February plans to extend Tihange-3 and Doel-4's operation to 2045 and allow new nuclear development, solidified by the May 15 vote.
Voters in the upcoming 2024 elections showed support for parties advocating nuclear energy, which impacted anti-nuclear Green politicians. The disruptions to fossil fuel supplies from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, along with concerns about rising energy prices and grid instability from renewable reliance, reduced opposition to nuclear power.
The Belgian Nuclear Forum indicated that the vote demonstrates the government's understanding that a mix of renewable and nuclear energy is essential to meet energy demands without relying on high-CO2 fossil fuels. They emphasized the need for a long-term energy policy based on realism and facts, considering this vote a preliminary step towards reviving nuclear power.
Currently, Tihange-3 and Doel-4 are Belgium's only operational reactors. Doel-3 was shut down on September 23, 2022, followed by Tihange-2 on January 31, 2023. Other reactors, including Doel-1, Doel-2, and Tihange-1, are set to close by the end of 2025 and are currently operating below their capacities. The May 15 vote does not alter the closure timeline for these units.
Engie, which holds 89.8% ownership of the reactors through its Belgian subsidiary Electrabel, and the Belgian government signed an agreement in 2023 to extend Tihange-3 and Doel-4's operations to 2035. Engie's CEO, Vincent Verbeke, stated in January that it would be "unthinkable" to keep the reactors running past that date. Since 2021, Engie has been focusing its investments on renewable energy and natural gas, moving away from nuclear power.
As of May 18, nuclear energy contributed 55.3% to Belgium's power mix, with renewables like wind and solar making up 27.5%. Mark Nelson, a nuclear engineer, commented that the proposed nuclear phaseout would have resulted in a severe loss of electricity supply and welcomed the legal abolition of the plan, although he warned that finding a new operator post-2035 could be challenging.