Having agreed to extend their nuclear reactors by 10 years, Engie has confirmed that the Federal Government will meet the French energy company's conditions.
On 21 July, the Federal Government and Engie reached an 'agreement in principle' to extend two nuclear reactors until 2035. In reality, this agreement is a letter of intent upon which further negotiations will be held.
In a press statement announcing that their profits had more than doubled in the last six months, Engie maintained that the terms outlined in the letter are 'intrinsic' to the extension.
Nuclear conditioning
Engie set three prerequisites for extending Doel 4 and Tihange 3 reactors. Firstly, that the extension will begin within five years of the agreement's signature.
They then stated that they want a shareholding company to be founded with a 50/50 involvement of the Belgian State and Electrabel, so that the government can play a role in strategic matters concerning the extension.
Finally, the letter of intent set a cap on Engie's expenses of decommissioning the reactors, as well as the management of fissile materials and radioactive waste. This will come in the form of a fixed amount to be determined by the Nuclear Provisions Commission and the National Organisation for Radioactive Waste and Fissile Materials (Ondraf).
