Belgium plans to nationalise reactors and prolong use of nuclear energy

Belgium has announced a plan to nationalise its nuclear reactors, buying them in a "full takeover" and suspending plans to decommission them - to secure the country's energy supplies.

The Belgian government and French utility company Engie signed a letter of intent regarding a possible takeover of all the group’s nuclear activities in Belgium.

The letter sets out a framework for exclusive negotiations between Belgium, Engie and its subsidiary Electrabel, with an aim to have Belgium assume total ownership of its seven nuclear reactors.

“This government is choosing safe, affordable and sustainable energy, with less dependence on fossil fuel imports and more control over our own supply,” Prime Minister Bart De Wever (NVA) announced on X.

Belgium hopes to extend the operation of existing reactors and develop new nuclear capacity in the country, reversing a decision made in the early 2000s to phase out nuclear power due to safety concerns that experts have long criticised as unfounded.

The seven ageing reactors in Belgium had all initially been set to close by 2025, but only two are presently operational: one in Doel and another in Tihange.

The other five reactors were shut between 2022 and 2025 but will not be dismantled under the new plan.

The Belgian state will conduct a comprehensive review of nuclear activities and the parties will then negotiate a memorandum of understanding setting out the main terms of the takeover by 1 October.

In the meantime, provisional measures have been put in place to preserve the value of the nuclear activities and suspend the decommissioning and dismantling of the reactors.

“The Belgian government is taking responsibility for Belgium's long-term energy future, with the objective of building a financially and economically viable activity that supports security of supply, climate objectives, industrial resilience and socio-economic prosperity,” the government said in a statement.

The proposed transaction includes the relevant staff, the nuclear subsidiaries and all assets and liabilities related to those activities.

Engie said it intends to support the employees concerned throughout the process by continuing dialogue with staff representatives and providing appropriate support measures.

The letter of intent does not constitute a firm commitment and the transaction remains subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements and the obtaining of the necessary authorisations.