The Flemish reactors of Doel 4 and Wallon of Tihange 3 will work ten years more from 2026. It remains to manage the electrical supply of the country by then.
By Jean-Pierre Stroobants (Brussels, correspondent)
Announced twenty years ago, several times postponed, the exit from nuclear power will not take place in Belgium. And it is an environmental minister, Tinne van der Straeten, who, associated with the Flemish Liberal Minister, Alexander de Croo, will have finally negotiated with Engie-Electrabel, the operator of the Belgian Park, the extension of two power stations. >
Monday, January 9, after several months of very difficult discussions, the French government and the energy agreed on the extension of the Doel 4 (Flanders) and Tihange 3 (Wallonia), the most recent reactors of the country, for a period of ten years. Engie, who had abundantly highlighted the difficulty, even the impossibility, of such an operation, now has four years to adapt the two units by November 2026.
A date that immediately led questions: experts had stressed that a risk of lack of supply of the country existed for the winter of 2025-2026, with a possible deficit of some 1,000 megawatts. Before their upgrade, the two units will be extinguished in 2025. And it is undoubtedly another government which will have to avoid a possible blackout, the lease of M. de Croo at the head of the government having to end at the MI-2024.
Cost sharing
“We take over our security of supply in hand” affirms, in any case, the head of government, forced to take up an energy file that all his predecessors had carefully neglected. For two decades, all the training in power had in fact resolved to accept the requirements of the Greens, without preparing real alternatives to the abandonment of nuclear.
This time, the Belgian State and Engie have created a common legal structure, which will be responsible for the management of the two reactors whose lifespan will be extended. Investments, risks and profits will be shared, without it being specified, at this stage, if the electricity produced will benefit from a guaranteed price. Engie will remain the operator, but the Belgian State should now participate in strategic decisions.
“This is a complex agreement, but it is unheard of,” said M me van der Straeten, for his part to give up the doctrine of Groen , the Flemish environmental party, to negotiate with the French group. This tackled negotiations in a position of strength: first indicating his refusal of an extension, he was able to put on the table the question of cost sharing for the dismantling of the other five reactors, supposed to be dismantled in 2025, and For waste management and used fuel. Engie obtained, in exchange for the promise to “do everything” to relaunch the two units in the expected time, a costing of the cost of this “nuclear passive”.
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