Belgium backs out of shutting down nuclear power plants

In order to avoid energy supply shortages, Belgium has decided to extend the operating period of its nuclear power plants, which it previously planned to close in 2025, by 10 years. In Belgium, representatives of the government partner political parties held a meeting to determine the country's energy strategy. Belgian President Alexander De Croo, who made statements at the end of the meeting, said that the Ukrainian crisis has increased uncertainties. "We have decided to extend the period of operation of the two nuclear reactors by 10 years," De Croo said, noting that they have abandoned the decision to close the country's nuclear power plants in 2025." said. Noting that they will extend the duration of the most recently built reactors in the country, De Croo said that this will not be enough to ensure the security of energy supply, in addition, they will build two natural gas power plants. De Croo noted that they will also accelerate investments in renewable energy in the country, noting that they will provide additional resources of 1 billion euros, especially for wind farms and solar panels. Explaining that they have also prepared a separate support package, De Croo said that in this context, they will reduce the VAT rate on products such as heat pumps and solar panels to 6 percent. There are a total of 7 reactors in Belgium, including 4 at the Doel nuclear power plant near the Dutch border and 3 at the Tihange nuclear power plant near the border of Germany and Luxembourg. The electricity produced by these reactors meets about half of the country's needs under normal conditions. In accordance with the latest decision, the country's Doel 4 and Tihange 3 reactors, built in 1985, will have their operating periods extended for another 10 years. These biner megawatt-hour reactors will continue to operate until 2036. The Belgian government discussed the country's energy strategy last year and agreed on a plan to end the operation of nuclear power plants in 2025. It was decided to cover the electricity generation deficit caused by the closure of nuclear power plants with natural gas power plants. However, the crisis in Ukraine caused the decision to close nuclear power plants to change.