Engie leaves door open for expanding Belgium’s nuclear energy

Engie, the French energy giant that owns several nuclear power plants in Belgium, announced that it is “open to talks on Belgium’s nuclear energy policy.” Engie repeatedly emphasized earlier it was a cool lover of the idea and indicated that it wanted to end its nuclear activities.

While Belgian Luminus CEO Grégoire Dallemagnes hinted in the media that his company—part of French EDF and its main competitor—is interested in answering the Belgian government’s call, Engie now says in a statement that it “remains open to talks but within the limits of its strategy.” Meanwhile, Engie has also paid the first installment of 11,5 billion euros for nuclear waste disposal.

The De Wever government calls for a further extension of Doel 4 and Tihange 3 by at least 10 years on top of the current extension until 2035. However, in late January, Vince Verbeke, Engie’s CEO in Belgium, made it clear that further lifetime extensions are “unthinkable” as nuclear power is no longer among Engie’s strategic ambitions.

“Our strategy remains unchanged,” said a company spokesperson, yet it is opening the door “to talks on Belgian energy policy on nuclear power.”

The first tranche of nuclear waste disposal was paid for

Last Friday, Engie and the government also finally sealed the deal to extend the lifetime of Doel 4 and Tihange 3. Engie paid the first installment for the disposal of the nuclear waste. This is 11,5 billion euros managed by the new government agency Hedera. The second tranche of 3,5 billion euros will follow when the reactors are restarted in November.

Doel 4 and Tihange 3 will be in a joint venture owned equally by the Belgian state and Engie. Preparatory works for the restart are in full swing. These include fuel delivery, approval form nuclear safety authorities and maintenance works (April to June for Tihange 3 and July to October for Doel 4).

FANC report decisive

According to the business newspaper L’Echo, in addition to the news that Engie now wants to re-engage in dialogue with the government about nuclear power plants, there are other positive developments on that front.

Grégoire Dallemagne, the head of Luminus, a subsidiary of the French energy company EDF that owns 50% of the Tihange 1 reactor, has indicated that his company is also “at the government’s disposal to examine various options regarding nuclear energy in Belgium.”

The De Wever government wants to repeal the nuclear exit law and keep Doel 4 and Tihange 3 open until at least 2045. It would also like to extend the opening of Tihange 1, Doel 1 (Belgium’s oldest nuclear reactor closed on February 14), and Doel 2 (scheduled to close this year) and possibly build new reactors.

Much will depend on the report expected from the FANC at the end of this month. The nuclear watchdog must indicate what it considers feasible and safe. Federal Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet (MR) is already pleased that “Engie is opening the door for talks on Belgium’s nuclear energy policy.”