The Belgian Government, at the initiative of the MR and Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet, is taking a bold step for the country's energy sovereignty: reclaiming Belgium's nuclear assets, halting decommissioning, and irrevocably committing Belgium to relaunching new nuclear power. This historic announcement aims to enable a nuclear operator to extend all the units that can be extended and to offer a credible economic model. The Government and the MR also want to build new nuclear capacity.
1. A first step between Engie and the Belgian State: two short-term consequences
On 30 April, the Belgian State and Engie signed a letter of intent setting out a negotiation framework concerning the acquisition by the Belgian State of all of Engie's and Electrabel's nuclear activities.
The scope of the negotiations covers all nuclear activities currently held and operated by ENGIE, Electrabel and their subsidiaries, including the entire nuclear fleet of seven reactors, the staff concerned, all nuclear subsidiaries, and all associated assets and liabilities, including decommissioning obligations.
The agreement has two direct consequences which are already being implemented:
- The suspension of all ongoing decommissioning activities on existing reactors that would prevent a restart. This concerns in particular Tihange 1, Doel 1 and 2, but also Tihange 2 and Doel 3.
- The launch of a study of the assets to be taken over (a due diligence) on behalf of the Belgian State.
These two points are clearly necessary conditions, and from them will follow a decision by both parties to the transaction, or not, regarding the nuclear assets. Everything is currently being put in place: due diligence has already begun and the relevant decommissioning activities have been fully halted. Both parties intend to reach a suitable transaction as quickly as possible.
2. Details of the work currently underway
The purpose of the due diligence is to build a complete picture of the actual state of the nuclear fleet before firmly considering any takeover. It is essential to safeguard the interests of the State, and therefore of Belgians, in this process.
This analysis will cover both the decommissioning status of the units that have been shut down for several years (Doel 3 and Tihange 2) and may have suffered significant deterioration, and those that could restart after ten-year life-extension works (Long Term Operations: LTO).
It is essential to assess the potential for continued operation of the fleet, given that 5 of the 7 reactors were previously due to be permanently shut down. Any extensions beyond Tihange 3 and Doel 4 will impact the nuclear operator's economic model. At this stage, of the 7 reactors, 3 have already been extended (Doel 1 and 2, as well as Tihange 1, to 50 years), while Tihange 2 and Doel 3 were shut down in 2022 and 2023 without extension (at 40 years).
Yet it is known that reactors of this type are being extended worldwide with a view to operating for at least 60 years, or even 80 to 100 years for American units. As long as safety rules are respected, the industrial facility can operate perfectly safely for the surrounding population and environment. In a nuclear reactor, all components are replaced when they become obsolete or during ten-yearly life-extension works, with the exception of the vessel where the chain reaction takes place.
3. A first step in a long process towards a return to nuclear power
The momentum and the decision that will result from this negotiation are strategic and particularly important for Belgium's industrial and energy future.
As a reminder, in 2020 Engie chose to stop investing in nuclear power as part of its corporate strategy. As they continued to repeat that they only wanted to extend Doel 4 and Tihange 3 for 10 years, with a possible opening for 20 years (see March 2026), it became inevitable to acknowledge a fundamental divergence from the Belgian State's strategy. The coalition agreement indeed provides for a target of at least 4 GW of nuclear power in Belgium, through both extensions and the construction of new nuclear reactors.
The Belgian State's goal is therefore to establish a nuclear operator capable of running the facility by restarting all nuclear reactors that can meet safety standards under a credible economic model. The due diligence also aims to identify all the assets needed for a Belgian nuclear operator to function autonomously.
But extending the existing reactors is not an end in itself.
The Belgian Government intends to launch a broad programme for the construction of new nuclear power plants during this legislature. These new builds will take time and require maintaining both the technical and operational skills, as well as the know-how and trained staff, within the existing nuclear sector. Extending the reactors and having a robust nuclear operator therefore form an important basis for launching a new nuclear programme.