Belgium's government has announced plans to purchase the country's nuclear reactors from French energy giant Engie, aiming to secure long-term energy supplies. Prime Minister Bart De Wever described the move as "a full takeover" of the nuclear fleet, including seven aging reactors, and said it would suspend previous plans to decommission them.
"This government is choosing safe, affordable and sustainable energy, with less dependence on fossil fuel imports and more control over our own supply," De Wever posted on X.
The decision reverses a phase-out policy established in the early 2000s, which had banned new nuclear plants and limited reactor lifespans to 40 years due to safety concerns. Currently, only two of Belgium's seven reactors remain operational—at Doel and Tihange—with licenses recently extended until 2035. The other five were shut between 2022 and 2025, but dismantling plans will now be halted.
Engie and the Belgian government aim to finalize the takeover agreement by October 1. A joint statement highlighted the goal of extending existing reactor operations and developing "new nuclear capacity" in Belgium.
"By doing so, the Belgian Government is taking responsibility for Belgium's long-term energy future, with the objective of building a financially and economically viable activity that supports security of supply, climate objectives, industrial resilience and socio-economic prosperity," the statement said.
Belgium joins several European countries reconsidering nuclear energy after years of reluctance. The reactors have long been controversial due to repeated shutdowns for safety checks and fears in neighboring countries. In 2015, tension arose when plans to extend reactor lifespans beyond their design life drew complaints from nearby cities. The German city of Aachen even distributed iodine tablets in 2017 due to safety concerns at Tihange following cracks and water leaks.