BRUSSELS, March 19 — Belgium yesterday delayed by a decade a plan to scrap nuclear energy in 2025, spooked by the huge rise in energy prices due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The push to 2035 comes as calls are rising that neighbouring Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, should also rethink its nuclear energy exit, but ministers in Berlin last week doubled down on their country’s no atom pledge despite the price shock. In yesterday's plan, which was negotiated during a marathon cabinet session, the government agreed to extend the operating lives of the Doel 4 reactor near the port city of Antwerp and Tihange 3 near Liege until 2035.
The government must negotiate with French energy giant Engie, owner of the nuclear power plants in Belgium, on the costs and delivery of the new plan.The government also warned that the two reactors in any case will not be available for the winter of 2025.