The Belgian Nuclear Forum (BNF) and Groupement des Industriels Français du Nucléaire (GIFEN – French Nuclear Energy Industry Group) have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at developing the sharing information, experiences and best practices, as well as promoting exchange and cooperation between members of the French and Belgian nuclear industries.
This agreement reflects a shared vision on the need to develop nuclear energy in order to meet the climate and energy sovereignty challenges facing both countries, as well as the European Union.
France has launched a comprehensive new nuclear programme which includes extending operation of existing nuclear facilities (reactors and fuel cycle plants) targeting an output of 400 TWh/year by 2030. In 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a nuclear renaissance in France, involving extending the operation of all existing reactors and proposing a programme for six new EPR2 reactors, with an option for a further eight. France is also pursuing projects involving innovative reactors and investments in fuel cycle plants.
Belgium is experiencing a nuclear revival. The Bihet Law adopted earlier this year replaced the 2003 nuclear phase-out law, reopening a range of possibilities such as renewing nuclear development and strengthening the supply chain. The Belgian government aims to build new reactors (SMR and/or large scale) to secure an additional 4 GWe of nuclear capacity, while also extending the life of several existing reactors.
In July, France and Belgium signed a declaration of intent for the two countries to deepen their cooperation on nuclear energy in key areas, including: reactor life extension; new projects, including small modular reactors (SMRs); research and innovation; strategic supply chains; training and skills.
Given this shared vision of the future nuclear development, BNF and GIFEN will strengthen their cooperation by implementing several concrete actions in the coming months, including:
- Information-sharing sessions on French and Belgian nuclear programmes and best industrial practices;
- Exchanges between members to promote alliances and partnerships between the French and Belgian nuclear industries;
- Joint actions to reaffirm the role of nuclear energy in contributing to the fight against climate change;
- Alliances to strengthen the path towards nuclear development at European level.
“France and Belgium have historically been two of the driving forces behind the development of civil nuclear energy in Europe,” said Olivier Bard, General Delegate of GIFEN. “The joint declaration signed in July by our two governments confirms a shared vision for the future of nuclear energy in our two countries and within the European Union. With today’s signing of this agreement, BNF and GIFEN, as representatives of industry, are committed to implementing joint actions to promote the performance and development of nuclear companies.”
Serge Dauby, BNF Managing Director noted: “Last July, Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet and his French counterpart Marc Ferracci signed a declaration of intent aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the field of nuclear energy. This cooperation agreement between sector federations, BNF & GIFEN, is a logical next step, as it is ultimately the industrial players who must put it into practice.”
He added: “Belgium and France can learn from each other and strengthen each other in various areas. Strategic cooperation such as this will be important in restoring nuclear energy to its rightful place at European level, where it can provide a response to long-term strategic challenges: security of supply, energy sovereignty and decarbonisation.”
BNF unites most companies and institutions active in Belgium in the various applications of nuclear technology. Originally a sector federation, BNF has gradually become a reference portal for information on nuclear technology for the press, the political world and the general public.
GIFEN is the only professional union in the nuclear sector in France that brings together major contractors, large companies, small and mid-sized companies, micro-enterprises and associations covering all types of industrial activities and all areas of the civil nuclear sector.
