'Not an option': Engie warns against delaying nuclear reactor closures

'Not an option': Engie warns against delaying nuclear reactor closures
Doel nuclear powerplant at the Port of Antwerp. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck

French energy giant Engie has warned against delaying the closure of Belgian nuclear power plants, L'Echo reported on Thursday.

Centre-right party CD&V wants to extend the deadline by 20 years, while the French-speaking liberals Mouvement Réformateur (MR) want to scrap it altogether.

However, Engie spokesperson Hellen Smeets said that "this is not an option on the table today." The fossil fuel giant believes that such an initiative could trigger a series of unforeseen complications.

The company highlighted that the European Commission might be reluctant to approve the recently concluded agreement between Engie and the Belgian government, which is currently under investigation for "unlawful state aid". Engie fears that a change in regulations may force the investigation to start from the beginning.

This blockage could jeopardise the planned extension of the two newest reactors in the country, Doel 4 and Tihange 3. These facilities will be crucial to ensure energy supply security next winter.

'Not feasible'

Engie has also repeated its previously communicated stance to federal formator Bart De Wever (N-VA): investing in new nuclear infrastructure is no longer part of its strategy.

Regarding the restart of the already shut down Doel 3 and Tihange 2 reactors, Engie states that "there is no going back for these units in their post-operational phase. [...] An extension is not feasible." The machine rooms at these plants have been largely dismantled, and the chemical decontamination of the primary circuit is complete at Doel 3 and ongoing at Tihange 2.

In addition, the extension of the operational life of the three oldest reactors – Doel 1, Doel 2 and Tihange 1 – is  "impracticable".

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