The Belgian government is moving to acquire seven nuclear reactors currently owned by energy company Engie, with an agreement expected to be finalized by October 1st.
The reactors in question are located at the Doel plant (East Flanders) and Tihange plant (Liège).
Until the deal is completed, all decommissioning activities will be immediately halted, as stated by Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Bart De Wever. The financial terms of the acquisition remain undisclosed.
Negotiations with Engie have reportedly been challenging, with the French energy operator arguing that reopening the reactors would be practically difficult, time-consuming, and resource-intensive. However, the Belgian government remains committed to the takeover, primarily to reduce dependence on foreign energy imports and strengthen its energy independence.
In recent years, several of Belgium’s reactors have been shut down, leaving only two currently operational—though both are temporarily offline for maintenance. Engie had previously announced plans to keep these running until 2035, but the government aims to extend their operation and restart the others.
In a statement, the Belgian Prime Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to "secure, affordable, and sustainable energy", reducing reliance on fossil fuel imports while gaining greater control over the country’s energy supply.
Under the proposed deal, the Belgian state would also assume responsibility for all personnel and the obligations related to the shutdown and decommissioning of the reactors. The Doel site houses four reactors, while Tihange has three.
