Belgium to exit nuclear power?

Belgium’s political parties reached an agreement to shut down the country’s two remaining nuclear power stations, Doel and Tihange, owned by GDF-Suez subsidiary Electrabel, according to Belgian media. Electrabel has not received official confirmation yet and declined to comment.

The agreement would follow the 2003 law that outlined a shutdown of the three oldest reactors, Doel I and II and Tihange I, by 2015. A complete exit by 2025 would then follow as the remaining reactors are shut down – Doel III in 2022, Tihange II in 2023 and Doel IV and Tihange III in 2025.

However, it is still unclear when the country will definitely pursue a total exit from nuclear power as the plan is subject to finding sufficient energy from alternative sources to keep the country running, said news agency Belga and Flemish state broadcaster VRT. A plan that details the alternative supply of energy is scheduled to be ready within six months.

In 2009, Belgium decided to keep its oldest reactors running for 10 years longer than planned in 2003 but this was never realised as the government fell early.