Engie’s subsidiary Electrabel has signed a non-binding letter of intent with the Belgian state to extend the lives of the Doel 4 (1,039 MW) and Tihange 3 (1,038 MW) reactors by 10 years. Under the agreement, the operation of the two reactors would be transferred to a joint venture equally owned by Engie and the Belgian state. In addition, the Belgian government agreed to set up a cap on liabilities and future costs related to the management of nuclear waste and spent fuel in the form of a fixed amount, including a premium covering future uncertainties. The two parties aim to negotiate a binding legal agreement by the end of 2022.
In December 2021, the Belgian government decided, as previously pledged, to close all nuclear power plants by 2025, i.e. Doel (2.9 GW) near Antwerp and Tihange (3 GW) near Liège, but it reserved the right to extend operations on two reactors (Tihange 3 and Doel 4), depending on the security level of supply. In January 2022, the Belgian Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (AFCN) authorised the extension of the operating life of these nuclear reactors if installations are updated.
Nuclear accounted for 51% of Belgium's electricity generation in 2021 (compared to 39% in 2020) thanks to the high availability of the nuclear fleet, followed by natural gas (22%, compared to 30% in 2020), wind (12%) and solar (6%).
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