The nuclear reactors Doel 4 and Tihange 3 can continue to operate during the works to keep them open for longer, according to the nuclear watchdog FANC.
Originally, it was thought that the works as part of an agreement made earlier this year to keep both nuclear reactors open for ten more years would mean the reactors would have to be shut down, however, they can be carried out during normal maintenance shutdowns, FANC told De Tijd.
This means they will also guarantee power supply in Belgium during the winters of 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.
It was feared that Belgium would have no functioning nuclear power plants at this point, as others are set to shut down just before then (namely Doel 1, Doel 2, and Tihange 1), which could have posed a potentially desperate energy crisis.
As works have already been carried out on these younger reactors, the idea is that they meet safety requirements for this.
Understanding feasibility
The possibility to keep the reacters operating reportedly arose during a meeting between the regulator FANC, the operator Engie and cabinet members of Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Home Affairs Minister Annelies Verlinden and Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Green), however, these have neither denied nor confirmed the option.
Before the newly suggested plan can become a concrete proposal, the Federal Government must first consider it as a serious option, then ask Engie to list the necessary studies and works for this solution, and submit the file to the regulator for approval, which means Engie itself must find the plan feasible.
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Belgium's two Green parties (Green and Ecolo) have already reacted positively to FANC's signal. "In December, we already put this plan forward as a preferred route," co-president of Groen Jeremie Vaneeckhout said.
Operator Engie is expected to publish another report on 27 February examining the feasibility of extending the other, older reactors (Doel 1 and 2, Tihange 1) for a shorter period, which should help accommodate the closure of the youngest two reactors and ensure power supply, a plan it isn't in favour of itself.
