Dec 2, 2025
The fifth Belgian reactor is permanently closed.
Unit 2 of the Doel nuclear power plant in Belgium’s Flanders region has been permanently shut down after 50 years of service and has been disconnected from the power grid. This closure aligns with Belgium’s nuclear phase-out strategy, which has already seen the decommissioning of four other reactors.
Belgium's Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) reported that the shutdown operation of the 445 MWe (net) pressurized water reactor (PWR) was conducted under its oversight.
Doel 2 has now entered the decommissioning stage in preparation for its dismantling. The reactor’s fuel will be removed and cooled in a storage pool before being transported to temporary storage.
"The process, like previous shutdowns, started with a 'notice of cessation of activities' submitted to the FANC," the regulator stated. "This document details the activities planned after shutdown to facilitate decommissioning."
Belgium's federal law enacted on January 31, 2003 mandated the phase-out of all seven nuclear reactors in the country. Originally, Doel 1 and 2 were scheduled to cease operations upon reaching their 40th anniversaries in 2015. However, amendments to the law in 2013 and 2015 allowed them to operate for an additional ten years. Doel 1 was retired in February this year, while Doel 3 was shut down in September 2022 and Tihange 2 at the end of January 2023. Tihange 1 was disconnected from the grid on September 30 of this year.
The last two reactors in Belgium—Doel 4 and Tihange 3—were also expected to close last month. Following the initiation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the government and Electrabel began discussions about extending the reactors' operation for another ten years, until 2035, culminating in a balanced agreement in December.
To facilitate the continued operation of Doel 4 and Tihange 3, Electrabel had to submit a comprehensive Long Term Operation (LTO) file, which included safety assessments and a plan to enhance the safety of these newer reactors. This file was submitted in December 2024 for both units. Tihange 3 went offline on April 5 for a significant LTO overhaul aimed at ensuring its long-term safe operation. Following a thorough review, FANC and its technical subsidiary Bel V confirmed that the reactor was safe to restart, with the 1020 MWe PWR resuming operations on July 10. Doel 4 was taken offline on June 30 for its LTO overhaul and restarted on October 8.
In May of this year, Belgium’s federal parliament voted overwhelmingly to repeal the 2003 law that called for a nuclear power phase-out and prohibited the construction of new nuclear facilities.
FANC has urged for "clarity during this legislative term regarding the potential extension of operations for Doel 4 and Tihange 3 after 2035. This would enable the necessary safety evaluations and preparatory measures to begin in a timely manner."
Belgium's Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) reported that the shutdown operation of the 445 MWe (net) pressurized water reactor (PWR) was conducted under its oversight.
Doel 2 has now entered the decommissioning stage in preparation for its dismantling. The reactor’s fuel will be removed and cooled in a storage pool before being transported to temporary storage.
"The process, like previous shutdowns, started with a 'notice of cessation of activities' submitted to the FANC," the regulator stated. "This document details the activities planned after shutdown to facilitate decommissioning."
Belgium's federal law enacted on January 31, 2003 mandated the phase-out of all seven nuclear reactors in the country. Originally, Doel 1 and 2 were scheduled to cease operations upon reaching their 40th anniversaries in 2015. However, amendments to the law in 2013 and 2015 allowed them to operate for an additional ten years. Doel 1 was retired in February this year, while Doel 3 was shut down in September 2022 and Tihange 2 at the end of January 2023. Tihange 1 was disconnected from the grid on September 30 of this year.
The last two reactors in Belgium—Doel 4 and Tihange 3—were also expected to close last month. Following the initiation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the government and Electrabel began discussions about extending the reactors' operation for another ten years, until 2035, culminating in a balanced agreement in December.
To facilitate the continued operation of Doel 4 and Tihange 3, Electrabel had to submit a comprehensive Long Term Operation (LTO) file, which included safety assessments and a plan to enhance the safety of these newer reactors. This file was submitted in December 2024 for both units. Tihange 3 went offline on April 5 for a significant LTO overhaul aimed at ensuring its long-term safe operation. Following a thorough review, FANC and its technical subsidiary Bel V confirmed that the reactor was safe to restart, with the 1020 MWe PWR resuming operations on July 10. Doel 4 was taken offline on June 30 for its LTO overhaul and restarted on October 8.
In May of this year, Belgium’s federal parliament voted overwhelmingly to repeal the 2003 law that called for a nuclear power phase-out and prohibited the construction of new nuclear facilities.
FANC has urged for "clarity during this legislative term regarding the potential extension of operations for Doel 4 and Tihange 3 after 2035. This would enable the necessary safety evaluations and preparatory measures to begin in a timely manner."