Belgium to exit nuclear power by 2025 – Reuters

Belgium's public broadcasters, RTBF and VRT, said the government has reached a deal to close its existing nuclear power plants by 2025 while continuing investment in nuclear power technology, Reuters reported Dec. 23.

This comes after weeks of debates on the topic, with green advocates determined that a 2003 law setting out a nuclear exit should be respected while the French-speaking liberals went in support of keeping the two newest reactors open.

Therefore, a core group of ministers established a compromise under which the last existing nuclear power plant will close in 2025, the broadcasters noted. French utility Engie SA operates Belgium's two nuclear plants, with seven reactors in total: the four-unit Doel Nuclear Plant, with an overall capacity of 2,935 MW, and the three-unit Tihange Nuclear Plant, with an overall capacity of 3,072 MW.

Combined, the two plants total about half of Belgium's electricity production. Each began operating in 1975, with additional units added up to 1985, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data.

Meanwhile, Belgium will invest €100 million in research into future nuclear power, focusing on smaller modular reactors, according to the media reports. The country is yet to decide on how to compensate for the lost energy and a decision on it might be taken by March.