Belgium: Further extension for nuclear reactors possible
According to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, nuclear power plants in Belgium could run even longer than currently planned. "A 20-year extension is entirely possible if the next government continues our work," De Croo wrote on the X platform (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday. More nuclear power is good for climate neutrality and ensures affordable energy. One of Belgium's two nuclear power plants is located not far from the border with Germany.
At the end of June, the Belgian government and power plant operator Engie had already agreed that two nuclear reactors would remain on the grid until 2035 - ten years longer than previously planned. This is intended to strengthen security of supply in Belgium. The agreement is currently being finalized, the Belgian news agency Belga reported on Wednesday.
This decision has already gone much further than previously expected, De Croo told the newspaper "L'Echo". "But the next government must certainly be able to consider an extension of 20 years after that," he continued.
Belgium has a total of seven reactors in its two nuclear power plants - although two have already been taken off the grid. In Germany, the Belgian nuclear reactors from the 1970s and 80s are a constant source of discussion. Reactors in the neighboring country have repeatedly been found to have defects, such as dilapidated concrete parts. The city of Aachen and the German government, among others, have therefore repeatedly called for the nuclear power plants to be shut down in the past. Belgium will elect a new government next June.
Nuclear power plays a crucial role in Belgium's strategy for achieving climate neutrality, as Prime Minister De Croo stated. Extending the operation of the nuclear power plants beyond their current planned lifespan could provide an additional 20 years of clean energy, if supported by the incoming government.
Source: www.dpa.com
