COUNTRY PAVILLIONS | WNE2025 Belgium: A new era for nuclear
Repeal of a long-standing nuclear phase out policy has put Belgium’s energy strategy under the spotlight with life extensions planned for its remaining fleet. Longer term plans may even see new build on the cards
Home to four operable reactors at two nuclear power plants, Belgium’s recent nuclear history has been turbulent with a long- standing policy to phase out nuclear power only repealed in May 2025. Under phase-out plans approved in law in 2003, Belgium had been expected to shutter all seven of its nuclear reactors by this year. However, in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine and the sanctions on Russian oil and gas that followed, in March 2022 the execution of the nuclear phase out plan was delayed by 10 years. Belgium’s electricity network operator had warned of significant energy shortages in the winter of 2026-2027 without a nuclear extension. Belgium’s nuclear plants, Doel and Tihange, are operated by
ENGIE Electrabel. The four operable units were commissioned between 1975 and 1985 although Belgium’s first commercial nuclear power plant began operating in 1974. Originally, three units were built at Tihange near Liege and four at Doel near Antwerp. All seven are pressurised water reactors (PWRs) and apart from Doel units 1 and 2 have a capacity of approximately 1000 MWe each. Doel 1 was to be taken out of service in 2015 but the phase out law was amended in both 2013 and 2015 allowing it to operate for an additional 10 years. In July 2022, ENGIE Electrabel said operations at Tihange 2 and Doel 3 could not be extended for technical and safety reasons. Doel 3 was closed in October 2022 and Tihange 2 in February 2023 with Doel 1 following in February 2025. Both Tihange 1 and Doel 2 are expected to shut this year. However, with the rethink on the phase out, the two newest
reactors, Doel 4 and Tihange 3, which began operations in 1985, are now expected to remain in operation until at least December 2037.
This image: Belgium’s Tihange nuclear power plant, near Liege, saw three units built.
Belgium’s Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (Federaal
Agentschap voor Nucleaire Controle or FANC) approved the restart of Tihange unit 3 in July. It was shut down at the beginning of April for extensive maintenance and upgrades. ENGIE now has until September 2028 to complete additional upgrade works. Doel 4 is also being prepared for further operation. The reactor was shut down for its long-term operations overhaul on 30 June. A restart requires approval and a positive assessment of the actions implemented. The restart of Doel 4 is, however, scheduled for this year. The two units will be operated by a joint venture equally owned by ENGIE and the Belgian government and based on a Contract for Difference mechanism aimed at evenly distributing financial risks associated with extending the operating life of the plants. The extension will relieve ENGIE of a significant financial burden linked to provisions made for the initially planned shutdown. The deal also includes transferring financial responsibility for nuclear waste and used fuel to the Belgian government. The share of electricity generated by nuclear power reached
a peak of about 60% in 2000 but has now declined to about 42%. However, the bill to repeal the nuclear exit law now allows for the possibility of further life extensions. The government recently announced plans to potentially extend the operating licences of the two newest units through to 2045 and has also revealed the ambition to construct new reactors. By opening the door to new nuclear capacity, “the government
confirms its will to strengthen our energy independence, ensure competitive prices and accelerate the decarbonisation of our production,” said Belgian energy minister Mathieu Bihet.
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