Nucleareurope welcomes agreement on Belgian nuclear reactors

Yesterday’s agreement reached between Engie and the Belgian government confirms the 10 year extension of two nuclear reactors.  This decision will contribute in a limited way to ensuring security of supply as it will maintain 2GW of production capacity.

“We welcome the fact that the Belgian government has recognised that nuclear helps to ensure security of energy supplies” states Yves Desbazeille, nucleareurope Director General. “Nevertheless, we believe that prolonging just two reactors for just 10 years (and not 20) will not be enough to ensure a stable supply of low-carbon electricity at an affordable cost.”

According to reports, the agreement sets the framework for the creation of a legal structure jointly owned by both Engie and the Belgian government.  The goal now is to ensure that the two reactors will be reconnected to the grid by November 2026.

About us: nucleareurope is the Brussels-based trade association for the nuclear energy industry in Europe. The membership of nucleareurope is made up of 15 national nuclear associations and through these associations, nucleareurope represents nearly 3,000 European companies working in the industry and supporting around 1,100,000 jobs.

For more information, please contact Jessica Johnson: jessica.johnson@nucleareurope.eu