For many years, Belgium maintained a ban on the construction of new nuclear reactors and pursued a policy of gradually phasing out and shutting down all nuclear units. However, over time, there have been amendments and extensions to the operational lifespan of certain reactors.
The country currently operates five nuclear reactors: Doel units 1, 2, and 4, as well as Tihange units 1 and 3, with a total capacity of approximately 4 GW.
The current Belgian government is planning to change its nuclear energy phase-out policy. A new political direction has announced its intention to extend the operation of two existing reactors for an additional ten years, following the previously agreed ten-year extension in 2023. Furthermore, the government has expressed interest in building entirely new reactors.
As part of the new energy strategy, the focus will be on investments in renewable energy sources, nuclear energy development, and achieving a low-carbon energy mix. To implement this strategy, it is necessary to swiftly lift the existing ban on the construction of new nuclear capacities and take all necessary measures to extend the operational lifespan of reactors that meet safety standards, particularly Doel 4 and Tihange 3.
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According to the plan announced by Belgium’s coalition government in December 2021, the Doel 3 reactor was shut down in September 2022, and Tihange 2 followed at the end of January 2023. Initially, Doel 4 and Tihange 3 were scheduled for closure by 2025. However, in December 2023, due to geopolitical circumstances, the decision was revised, and Belgium finalized plans to extend the lifespan of Doel 4 and Tihange 3 for ten years, securing a stable energy capacity of 2 GW, as reported by World Nuclear News.
The government also plans to build an additional 4 GW of capacity, as emphasized by the Minister of Energy, who added that the construction of small modular reactors (SMRs) alone will not be sufficient.
Discussions about nuclear reactors in Belgium had subsided following the initial agreements on a gradual nuclear phase-out. However, circumstances have changed due to the growing need for stable and low-carbon energy sources in the context of global energy and climate challenges.
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