Are we finally going to extend certain nuclear reactors? This is the subject of a restricted council of ministers of the federal government which takes place this Wednesday evening. He will examine a report which mentions a risk of electricity shortage in 3 years. He will therefore have to take measures to avoid this scenario. Explanations.
The network managers would be clear in their report that they will submit to the government. Belgium risks running out of electricity in the winter of 2025-2026, more precisely between November and April because during this period, no power plant will be in operation.
The government has decided to extend Doel 4 and Tihange 3, which close in July and September 2025, but Engie claims that it is impossible to revive them before November 2026.
What do we do then? This is the question that ministers must answer. For now, 3 scenarios seem to emerge.
The first is a micro-extension of Doel 1, Doel 2 and Tihange 1, the oldest reactors as their names indicate. Already extended for 10 years, they would be kept in operation for a few additional months. Problem: according to Engie, this scenario would not comply with current safety regulations and new international safety standards for earthquakes and aircraft crashes.
Second scenario: ask Engie to reactivate Doel 4 and Tihange 3 more quickly. This involves rehabilitation work lasting 14 months. The idea of the Minister of Energy and ecologists would be to take advantage of the summers to do the work, even if it means switching the reactors on and off several times. But here, too, there is a risk of breaking the regulations.
Finally, the third hypothesis: the construction of a new gas-fired power station, either at Vilvordre or at Tessenderlo. This is apparently not the preferred track.