Belgium Reverses Nuclear Phase‑Out Plan, Eyes Engie Takeover
In a notable shift of energy policy, the Belgian government announced its intention to acquire the country’s nuclear reactors from French energy company Engie. The move, reported by the BBC and confirmed by Prime Minister Bart De Wever on his X account, aims to secure Belgium’s electricity supply while reducing reliance on fossil‑fuel imports.
Background of Belgium’s Nuclear Fleet
Belgium operates seven pressurised water reactors, all commissioned between the 1970s and 1980s. As of 2024, only two units—Doel 1&2 and Tihange 1—are commercially active, with their licences recently extended to 2035. The remaining five reactors were progressively shut down between 2022 and 2025 following safety inspections and the country’s original nuclear phase‑out legislation, which mandated a complete shutdown by 2025.
The phase‑out law, enacted in the early 2000s after public concern over incidents such as the 2006 Doel water leak, prohibited the construction of new reactors and capped the operational life of existing units at 40 years. Over the years, several reactors experienced temporary outages for crack inspections and water‑leak repairs, prompting neighbouring countries—most notably Germany—to voice safety concerns.
Government’s Rationale for the Takeover
Prime Minister De Wever framed the acquisition as a pursuit of “safe, affordable and sustainable energy.” In a joint statement with Engie, the government highlighted four objectives:
- Ensuring security of electricity supply for households and industry.
- Supporting Belgium’s climate commitments by maintaining low‑carbon baseload generation.
- Strengthening industrial resilience through stable, predictable power prices.
- Promoting socio‑economic prosperity by preserving jobs linked to nuclear operations and potential new builds.
The statement also signalled an intention to expand capacity at the existing sites and to explore “new nuclear capacity” in Belgium—a direct reversal of the earlier ban on new construction.
Implications for Energy Security and Climate Goals
Analysts note that keeping the nuclear fleet operational could help Belgium meet its 2030 target of reducing greenhouse‑gas emissions by 55 % compared with 1990 levels, as outlined in the EU’s Fit for 55 package. Nuclear power currently supplies roughly half of Belgium’s electricity; maintaining this share would lessen the need for rapid scaling of renewable imports or gas‑fired peakers during periods of low wind or solar output.
Conversely, critics argue that extending the life of ageing reactors raises safety and waste‑management challenges. The Belgian Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) will need to conduct rigorous assessments before any restart or life‑extension can be approved.
Challenges and Public Concerns
Historical tensions with neighbouring countries persist. In 2017, the German city of Aachen distributed iodine tablets to residents amid fears over potential releases from the Tihange site after it was taken offline for crack repairs. Similar apprehensions have been voiced in the Netherlands and Luxembourg, where cross‑border emergency planning remains a topic of bilateral dialogue.
Domestically, anti‑nuclear groups contend that resources would be better directed toward offshore wind, solar, and energy‑efficiency measures. They warn that a renewed focus on nuclear could divert investment from faster‑to‑deploy renewable technologies.
Next Steps and Timeline
Engie and the Belgian government have set a target of reaching a definitive agreement on the takeover by 1 October 2025. Should negotiations succeed, the transfer would involve:
- Assumption of operational licences for the two active reactors.
- Responsibility for the safe decommissioning or potential refurbishment of the five idle units.
- Funding for any required safety upgrades identified by FANC.
- A feasibility study for constructing additional nuclear capacity, possibly small modular reactors (SMRs), at existing sites.
Observers will watch closely how the deal aligns with EU state‑aid rules and whether it receives the necessary parliamentary approval in Belgium. The outcome could serve as a bellwether for other European nations reconsidering nuclear’s role in their energy mixes.
