Majority in clinch with N-VA about letter Engie: “You suffer from amnesia”

The French energy company Engie, which operates the nuclear power stations in our country through Electrabel, has sent a letter to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo asking that Belgium co-invest in the extension of the latest nuclear reactors and also pick up the bill for the decommissioning of the other nuclear power stations. Since last spring, De Croo has been negotiating with Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten with Engie about the conditions for the extension of Doel 4 and Tihange 3, which the government decided in March to keep open for another 10 years.

ALSO READ. In a letter to De Croo, Engie asks that the government contributes to extending the life of nuclear power plants

According to N-VA MP Bert Wollants, the government has delayed far too long with that decision, and as a result has virtually no room for maneuver in the talks with Engie, so that the bill will end up with the citizen. “We are well into added time, you have your back against the wall, and you will have to negotiate the worst possible deal to keep the lights on,” he told the prime minister during question time on Thursday afternoon.

“Amnesia”

Kris Verduyckt (Vooruit) thought that was unjustified. “During the last legislature you were in a government that did not decide anything and now come here complaining that it all took too long,” it sounded. “When we were here advocating the 6 percent VAT on energy, you didn’t give in, but if a multinational sends a letter, you’ll be the first to see it. That is the difference.”

The greens also knocked on that nail. “The N-VA pretended for months that this lifespan extension was possible, but remained silent about the costs,” said Green MP Kim Buyst. “You were in the majority for four years during the previous legislature, you had the opportunity to extend all the reactors you wanted,” says Samuel Cogolati (Ecolo).

Prime Minister De Croo finally accused Wollants of “suffering from amnesia”. “There’s nothing wrong with saying, however, that the context has changed, so we’re changing our stance.”

More generally, the majority parties emphasized that there is no question that Belgium will pay for the nuclear clean-up. The Prime Minister pointed to a draft law by Van der Straeten that is currently before the House and must guarantee that Engie pays that bill.

De Croo also reiterated that the government wants to exercise discretion in the negotiations. “There is only one priority: the interests of Belgium, the inhabitants and everyone who uses electricity in this country. (..)” He emphasized that everyone around the table must take responsibility, “including the historical responsibility”. Our country decided in 2003 to close the last nuclear power stations by 2025.

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