Belgium's National Organisation for Radioactive Waste and Enriched Fissile Materials (Ondraf) recently completed a comprehensive analysis of the costs associated with storing nuclear waste underground, comparing these expenses to those of other Northern European nations, including Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland. The results, as reported by the newspaper l'Echo, reveal that Belgium's expenses closely resemble those of its European counterparts.
In light of the agreement reached earlier this year between the Federal Government and Engie, the operator of Belgium's nuclear power plants, the responsibility for managing nuclear waste generated by the nation's seven reactors is assumed by the Belgian State.
Engie will facilitate this transition by making two payments, totaling €15 billion, to the State. This arrangement effectively settles any outstanding financial obligations. However, this financial transfer is contingent on the final volume of waste generated, which could potentially exceed initial projections.
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Engie has been vocal about its concerns regarding the substantial costs imposed by the Federal Government in this regard. In response to the concerns raised by responsible ministers, including Economy and Employment Minister Pierre-Yves Dermagne (PS) and Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Flemish Greens), Ondraf conducted a comparative study last year.
The findings from this study, reviewed by l'Echo, confirm that the estimated costs for geological storage in Belgium are on par with those of the neighbouring countries included in the analysis.
Despite its financial challenges, Engie is expected to enjoy bumper profits this year due to ongoing global energy supply constraints triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year.
