In Belgium, Parliament repeals the nuclear phase-out, which was enshrined in a 2003 law

On Thursday, March 14, Belgium confirmed its decision to abandon nuclear power through a vote by MPs repealing a landmark 2003 law, in accordance with the wishes of the government led by Flemish conservative Bart De Wever.

Concretely, the new text removes all reference to an exit from nuclear power in 2025, as well as the ban on Belgium building new nuclear production capacities.

It offers the possibility of extending the lifespan of other reactors, beyond the two already extended for ten years - until 2035 - following an agreement in 2023 between the Belgian State and the operator of the nuclear park, the French group Engie.

The bill on "various provisions relating to nuclear energy" was adopted by a large majority of 102 votes in favor, 8 against, and 31 abstentions. "The Federal Parliament has just turned the page on two decades of blockages and hesitations to pave the way for a realistic and resilient energy model," said Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet, who defended the project.

This French-speaking liberal assured that Belgium intended to "relaunch an innovative sector" capable of strengthening its energy independence and its decarbonization efforts.