The European Commission has approved the extension of the operational life of Belgium’s Doel 4 and Tihange 3 nuclear reactors.
The previous Belgian Government, led by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, reached an agreement with energy company Engie in late 2023 to extend the reactors’ lifespan by ten years, until 2037 at the latest.
This deal reverses the planned nuclear phase-out and aims to ensure Belgium’s electricity supply over the next decade.
Last summer, the Commission began investigating the state aid provided in the agreement and its impact on the electricity market. The review included an assessment of the price guarantee for electricity from the reactors, a fixed amount of €15 billion for nuclear waste disposal, and the establishment of a joint venture with Electrabel.
On Friday, the Commission concluded that the support is “necessary,” “proportional,” and “limited to the strict minimum.”
However, Belgium had to make several adjustments in return. The joint venture had to transfer some decision-making power to an independent energy manager, and the price guarantee mechanism needed modification.
