Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet (MR) has defended himself in parliament against criticism that he is not taking enough action on nuclear issues.
Nothing concrete came of it, but according to Bihet, discussions are underway with operators and owners of nuclear power plants, and there are investors “interested in extending the maximum number of reactors, provided that it can be done safely.”
According to the business newspaper De Tijd, a new study concludes that only Doel and Chertal are suitable sites for new large nuclear reactors. However, the report also states that constructing a large reactor at one of these sites will take at least 15 to 20 years.
No progress
The De Wever government has expressed its desire to extend Doel 4 and Tihange 3, two of the original seven nuclear reactors that Engie still operates in Belgium, not by 10 years, but by 20 years, until 2045. However, the French energy giant is currently holding back.
Although they have left the door open to help the government secure a longer extension through a joint venture with the state, Engie indicates that this would be a completely new project that would not be able to get off the ground until around 2030.
To date, Engie has not announced any plans to build new reactors or SMRs itself. On the contrary, in early 2026, Engie CEO Vincent Verbeke reiterated that nuclear energy is, in principle, a “closed chapter” for them and that their strategy is entirely focused on renewable energy and flexible gas-fired power stations. However, the government wants to focus on the building of modular reactors, but critics say nothing has come of it.
New, large nuclear reactors only be available after 2040
To make these plans more concrete, the government commissioned a report from Tractebel, Engie’s engineering firm, which is acting as an independent research agency in this case, on the possibilities for new, large nuclear reactors – not small modular reactors (SMRs), but classic EPR-type reactors.
From that report, which De Tijd and sister newspaper L’Echo were able to review, two locations emerge as the most suitable: Doel, near Antwerp, and Chertal, a former ArcelorMittal industrial site in the province of Liège.
However, the report also states that constructing a large reactor at one of these sites will take at least 15 to 20 years. In other words, it is not a short-term solution, but a strategic choice for the period after 2040.
Plus: the site in Chertal is less than 8 km from Liège’s city center, which may provoke opposition from residents. A list of 7 to 8 sites near industrial areas has also been drawn up for the construction of new SMRs.
Investors wanted
And then there is the price tag. The estimated investment for a single large 1.6 GW reactor is between 8 billion and 11 billion euros, assuming no major delays. For two new nuclear power plants with, for example, a total capacity of 4 GW, this would require an investment of 25-35 billion euros.
If the current government chooses this option, a ‘Nuclear Investment Authority’ would be set up before the end of this year. In exchange for guaranteed prices, this body would have to attract private investors, such as major industrial players from the steel and chemical sectors in Liège, because the state cannot bear these billions on its own without blowing the budget.
An SMR is estimated to cost between 3 billion and 5 billion euros, and the first commercial SMRs in Belgium would not be available until 2040.
Pressure rises
High-voltage grid operator Elia previously estimated that Belgium will need 4,4 gigawatts of additional power generation capacity by 2035.
The fact that Bihet also significantly scaled back the ambition for Princess Elisabeth Island in June due to “financial unsustainability” and has also called a strategic pause on new wind farms in that area of the North Sea, means that the electricity expected from these will not be available until 2030-2032, two to four years later than originally planned.
The opposition and environmental groups are therefore accusing Bihet and the government of deliberately slowing the development of offshore wind energy to make room for nuclear energy.
In addition, since the end of last year, Bihet has blocked the guaranteed price for the energy generated in nuclear power plants. He is also in dispute with Engie over the 3 billion euros in additional costs for dismantling the nuclear power plants.
For Engie, these conflicts and forms of pressure are grist for the mill to discontinue further extensions of the power plants. At the same time, Bihet has no choice but to partner with other companies, such as France’s EDF for EPRs or America’s Westinghouse for SMRs, to pursue his plans for new reactors.
The major obstacle is that both the Doel and Tihange sites are owned or managed by Engie, which is why Chertal is also being considered.
The nuclear standoff therefore continues, although at present there seems to be more tension and pressure tactics than a calm atmosphere conducive to finding a solution.
