Engie-Electrabel will no longer invest in extending the lifespan of Belgian nuclear power plants. This is evident from an internal communication to the staff.
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“After constructive discussions, we have to conclude that the government has a clear intention to implement the coalition agreement,” said Thierry Saegeman, Engie-Electrabel’s chief nuclear officer, in a message to the staff, which Trends reported on Tuesday. ‘We cannot invest tens of millions of euros without certainty of return. So we are preparing for a definitive shutdown. ‘
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That is a logical consequence of what was decided in the coalition agreement.
Anne-Sophie Hugé
Spokeswoman Engie
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‘That is a logical consequence of what was decided in the coalition agreement. We are responsible for managing the shutdown and decommissioning of the nuclear installations and we cannot wait indefinitely, ‘said spokesman Anne-Sophie Hugé.
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The decision follows ‘constructive talks’ with Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen), Groen’s leader Kristof Calvo tweeted and confirmed her spokesman Jonas Dutordoir. The government’s intention has always been very clear. We are therefore pleased that Engie, which we consider an ally, is involved in the energy transition that we are facing. Clarity was also needed for Engie. ‘
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According to Van der Straeten, the debate about whether or not to keep the latest two nuclear power stations Doel 4 and Tihange 3 open is ‘a fight in the margins’, she noted in the Energy Committee of the House on Tuesday, where she explained her policy letter. . The two nuclear power plants only account for 3 to 4 percent of energy production. “It is a ripple in the water when you see the challenge we face,” agrees Dutordoir.
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Narrower road
The coalition agreement does provide for an evaluation at the end of next year. Then it is examined whether the security of supply is not jeopardized and whether electricity prices are not going through the roof. If it turns out that there is a problem, the emergency scenario is kept in reserve to keep Doel 4 and Tihange 3 open longer. But with Engie Electrabel’s decision, that road seems to be narrowing. “We will have to look at that,” says Dutordoir. Hugé is also careful against bold statements. ‘We have to await the government’s final decision. But we have already explained several times why that decision is better sooner than later.‘
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If the decision on extending the lifespan of Tihange 3 and Doel 4 is not made in 2020, the costs will become unmanageable.
Bart De Wever
N-VA chairman
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To continue to operate the nuclear power stations safely, are still lots of adjustments needed. If these are not put into motion until the end of next year, the coalition agreement will lead to a delay of eleven months. It is then no longer realistic to get everything done on time, Engie warned earlier.
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‘Dogmatic green veto’
According to N-VA chairman Bart De Wever, who has always argued for keeping the two nuclear power stations open longer, Engie has always made it clear that a decision had to be made this year about whether or not to extend the nuclear power stations. That there was still time until the end of next year to make a decision, as the De Croo government claims, is not correct, he says.
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‘If the decision about extending the lifespan of Tihange 3 and Doel 4 is not made in 2020, the costs will become unmanageable. In this way, the purple-green government is losing 1,000 jobs due to a completely dogmatic green veto against the nuclear option, ‘says De Wever in a response.
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He believes this is detrimental to Flanders. ‘We are taking a path that leads to polluting gas-fired power stations, rising prices and uncertainty about the supply. This is a problem especially for Flanders, where energy-intensive companies are crucial for prosperity. ‘
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