European Commission inquiry into Belgian nuclear support

The European Commission has opened an investigation to verify whether Belgian public support for the extension of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 nuclear reactors complies with EU state aid rules.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90€/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90€/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 €/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99€/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 €/year from the second year.

In 2023, the Belgian government signed an agreement with Engie to extend the life of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 reactors by ten years.
Originally, according to a 2003 law, these reactors were due to be shut down at the end of 2025.
However, the war in Ukraine and dependence on Russian gas have prompted Belgium to review its energy policy in order to secure its electricity supply.

Terms of agreement

The agreement provides for the creation of a joint venture equally owned by the Belgian State and Electrabel (a subsidiary of Engie), as well as loans or cash flow guarantees financed by public funds.
The European Commission is examining these arrangements as a single intervention involving state aid.

Controversies and challenges

One controversial point in the agreement concerns the storage of nuclear waste and spent fuel. Engie will pay a lump sum of 15 billion euros, while the Belgian state will assume the costs of future storage.
The Commission wishes to verify the proportionality of these financial arrangements.

Implications and prospects

The opening of this inquiry offers Belgium and interested parties the opportunity to submit their observations, while remaining neutral as to the eventual outcome.
This decision comes at a time when Belgium is seeking to strengthen the security of its electricity supply in the face of increasingly volatile energy markets.
In addition, this investigation could have a significant impact on Belgian energy policy and on nuclear strategies at European Union level, sparking heated political and economic debate in the country.
The need to strike a balance between energy independence and environmental commitments could thus become a central point of discussion, highlighting the challenges and opportunities associated with the energy transition.

The General Court of the European Union has rejected Austria’s appeal against the inclusion of gas and nuclear energy in the classification of sustainable investments.
Kazakhstan has signed an agreement with Nukem Technologies Engineering Services GmbH to benefit from German expertise in nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste management.
The European Court of Justice annulled the European Commission's authorisation of Hungarian state aid for the Paks II nuclear project, questioning compliance with EU public procurement rules.
A Chinese consortium has secured a CNY4.2bn ($594mn) contract for the construction of conventional islands for the Xuwei nuclear project, combining third and fourth generation reactors.
Rosatom and China National Nuclear Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen bilateral cooperation in talent development and skills training in the nuclear sector.
Iran has reached a new agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency to formalise the resumption of inspections, following months of suspension linked to military tensions and criticism of its nuclear programme.
The French Energy Regulatory Commission outlines a structured plan to accelerate the deployment of small modular reactors, focusing on industrial heat and series effects to enhance competitiveness.
US-based Nuclearn has secured $10.5mn to scale its artificial intelligence platform, already deployed in over 65 nuclear reactors, to automate critical operations amid rising energy demand.
The steel dome of the CAP1000 Haiyang 4 reactor has been positioned, a major construction milestone paving the way for upcoming maintenance and technical installation phases.
The Groupement des Industriels Français de l'Énergie Nucléaire and the Belgian Nuclear Forum formalise a partnership aimed at strengthening industrial exchanges and joint projects between the two countries’ nuclear sectors.
The International Atomic Energy Agency warns that little time remains to reach an agreement with Iran on fully resuming inspections, as European sanctions could be reimposed within 30 days.
Slovenia’s JEK2 project moves forward with two nuclear technologies judged technically compatible, estimated between EUR9.31bn ($10.1bn) and EUR15.37bn ($16.66bn).
US-based Oklo will build the country’s first privately funded nuclear fuel recycling centre in Oak Ridge, investing $1.7bn and creating over 800 jobs.
The Tennessee Valley Authority partners with ENTRA1 Energy to develop up to 6 gigawatts of modular nuclear capacity, in an unprecedented project supporting energy growth across seven U.S. states.
A report by the International Atomic Energy Agency puts Iran’s 60% enriched uranium at 440.9 kg before Israeli and U.S. strikes, while the agency’s access to enrichment sites has remained suspended since the operations.
US-based Westinghouse has signed six industrial agreements in the UK to supply critical components for its AP1000 and AP300 nuclear projects in Britain and abroad.
NANO Nuclear Energy receives direct funding from the US Air Force innovation branch to assess the integration of its KRONOS MMRâ„¢ microreactor at the Washington D.C. military base.
EDF extends the operation of Heysham 1 and Hartlepool by one year after favourable safety inspections, ensuring continuity of nuclear production and safeguarding more than 1,000 jobs.
Russian nuclear group Rosatom has confirmed advanced discussions with India and Turkey to launch new power plants, including advanced and floating reactor technologies.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has identified uranium particles of industrial origin in samples taken from a Syrian site suspected of hosting an undeclared nuclear reactor.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.