Engie Electrabel is preparing the nuclear exit in 2025. Nuclear CEO Thierry Saegeman informed staff on Tuesday that the investments for the lifespan extension of the nuclear power plants will be scrapped, Trends writes.
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“After constructive talks, we have to conclude that the current government has the clear intention to implement the coalition agreement,” the weekly quotes the Chief Nuclear Officer in a message to staff. “We can therefore conclude that the Belgian government has definitively opted for the construction of new gas-fired power stations. That means two things. First, a full nuclear exit. Second: we should not expect a final decision (about a possible extension, ed.) Before the end of 2021. ”
Resolutely chosen
The De Croo government has resolutely opted for a nuclear exit in 2025. But should an unexpected problem of security of supply arise in November 2021, the government will take the necessary measures, such as an adjustment of the nuclear phase-out calendar, and that for a capacity that can go up to 2 GW, according to the coalition agreement. That corresponds to the capacity of 2 nuclear power plants. In principle, the aim is Doel 4 and Tihange 3, the two youngest nuclear power plants.
Engie Electrabel did not want to comment on the plans when the coalition agreement was published. But internally, the company now seems convinced that the nuclear exit is inevitable. “We will ask the employees of Electrabel and Tractebel Engineering who are currently working on the long-term operation of Doel 4 and Tihange 3 to review the list of projects and to focus on projects that are needed in 2021, even if there is no life extension of the nuclear power plants. Said the Chief Nuclear Officer according to Trends. “We cannot invest tens of millions of euros without certainty of return and are therefore preparing for a definitive shutdown.”
End of 2026
The government only wants to make decisions about a possible postponement of the nuclear exit at the end of next year. In a note that Engie Electrabel delivered to the government negotiators at the end of September, she said that in that case Doel 4 and Tihange 3 could be operational again with an eleven-month delay, so at the earliest by the end of 2026, according to Trends.
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