The environmental associations Beter Leefmilieu (BBL) and Inter –Environment Wallonia (IEW) have submitted an appeal to the Constitutional Court. It’s an appeal against the legislation that allows an extension to the lives of reactors Doel 1 and 2, the Belga agency learned on Thursday.
While we were progressively moving away from nuclear energy when the legislation was voted in back in 2003, the federal government decided to allow the extension of Doel 1 and 2’s lifespans.
“There was no environmental impact study or public consultation before the decision was made to extend the reactor’s lives. These are the arguments mentioned in the State Council’s report”, says Sara Van Dyck, an energy specialist for BBL. “This legislation does not respect the Aarhus and Espoo conventions, or Belgian and European law”, she adds.
“It was not possible to democratically debate the issue, which is why we have had to go to court”, BBL says. They think the extension of the reactor’s lives will also create insecurity on the energy market.
BBL and IEW are expecting a decision by the end of the year.
In December, Greenpeace appealed against the extension to Doel 1 and 2 reactor’s lives through the State Council.
The organization particularly mentioned the administrative acts by the Federal Nuclear Control Agency (AFCN) and government that allowed this extension.
(Source: Belga)
