Belgium seeks control of its nuclear reactors to control energy supply

Belgium plans to take control of all nuclear power plants in the country from French energy group Engie, in an effort to secure control of its own energy supplies.

Negotiations between the Belgian government and the energy giant have now begun, with Belgium seeking to take over all nuclear activities currently owned and managed by Engie and its Electrabel subsidiary, according to a press statement.

“An agreement has been reached with ENGIE to define the conditions and initiate the necessary studies for a full takeover of the Belgian nuclear park,” Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever wrote in a post on X.

“This government chooses safe, affordable and sustainable energy. With less dependence on fossil imports and more control over our own supply,” he added.

Five out of the seven power plants, which are spread across Doel, near Antwerp, and Tihange in the Liège region, closed between 2022 and 2025.

Two of the reactors remain active as they had their operating licenses extended for 10 years until 2035, under an agreement reached in 2023 by the previous government.

In contrast with the country’s previous policies, De Wever pledged to increase Belgium’s use of nuclear energy and pushed back against the closure of its reactors.

The plans to do so faced signficant opposition from Engie, which would rather invest in solar, batteries and gas-powered stations.

“Engie has made a decision to leave nuclear. We respect that, but a country with nuclear ambitions and an operator wanting to get out is not a good combination,” de Wever said, in comments carried by the Flemish public broadcaster VRT.

Pending the final agreement of the negotiations, which are expected to conclude in October, the Belgian prime minister confirmed on X that plans to decommission nuclear operations in Belgium, which had been initiated by Engie, are “halted with immediate effect.”

The topic of nuclear power as a key source of energy had already gained momentum following the energy crisis which came about following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

It has again reemerged to the centre of the debate in Europe as the ongoing war in Iran and resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused energy prices to soar across the continent.