Belgium seeks to take control of nuclear reactors in move to control energy supplies

Published on 30/04/2026 - 13:30 GMT+2

Belgium plans to instrumentality power of each atomic powerfulness plants successful the state from French vigor radical Engie, successful an effort to unafraid power of its ain vigor supplies.

Negotiations betwixt the Belgian authorities and the vigor elephantine person present begun, with Belgium seeking to instrumentality implicit each atomic activities presently owned and managed by Engie and its Electrabel subsidiary, according to a property statement.

"An statement has been reached with ENGIE to specify the conditions and initiate the indispensable studies for a afloat takeover of the Belgian atomic park," Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever wrote successful a station connected X.

"This authorities chooses safe, affordable and sustainable energy. With little dependence connected fossil imports and much power implicit our ain supply," helium added.

Five retired of the 7 powerfulness plants, which are dispersed crossed Doel, adjacent Antwerp, and Tihange successful the Liège region, closed betwixt 2022 and 2025.

Two of the reactors stay progressive arsenic they had their operating licenses extended for 10 years until 2035, nether an statement reached successful 2023 by the erstwhile government.

In opposition with the country's erstwhile policies, De Wever pledged to summation Belgium's usage of atomic vigor and pushed backmost against the closure of its reactors.

The plans to bash truthful faced signficant absorption from Engie, which would alternatively put successful solar, batteries and gas-powered stations.

"Engie has made a determination to permission nuclear. We respect that, but a state with atomic ambitions and an relation wanting to get retired is not a bully combination," de Wever said, successful comments carried by the Flemish nationalist broadcaster VRT.

Pending the last statement of the negotiations, which are expected to reason successful October, the Belgian premier curate confirmed connected X that plans to decommission atomic operations successful Belgium, which had been initiated by Engie, are "halted with contiguous effect."

The taxable of nuclear powerfulness arsenic a cardinal root of energy had already gained momentum pursuing the vigor situation which came astir pursuing Russia's full-scale penetration of Ukraine successful 2022.

It has again reemerged to the centre of the statement successful Europe arsenic the ongoing warfare successful Iran and resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused vigor prices to soar crossed the continent.