Belgium Wants to Extend Running Times of its Nuclear Power Plants

Berlin, 14.10.2009


The Belgian government has now declared that it wants to extend the running times of the country´s three oldest nuclear power plants by 10 years, i.e. from 40 to 50 years. In a study conducted previously, a group of energy experts had pointed out the economic disadvantages of a shut-down by 2015. The Doel 1, Doel 2 and Tihange 1 plants would thus be granted an operating licence up to 2025.

The few countries that have phased out or wanted to phase out nuclear energy are gradually revising their attitude towards nuclear energy. In the process, longer use of existing plants, such as in the USA, Sweden or the Netherlands for example, is also being implemented as an established means of solving the impending problems in the energy economy. Belgium thus joins the list of countries that have meanwhile come to a reappraisal of nuclear energy.