The Belgian government on 30 March approved a new energy strategy to phase out its seven commercial nuclear power reactors between 2022 and 2025. Investment will be allocated instead to renewable energy, and in particular for offshore wind farms. A draft bill will be ready for submission to the Council of Ministers by 31 May. Belgium has two NPPs at Doel and Tihange. Doel NPP has four pressurised water reactor and Tihange NPP has three. The Brussels-based Nuclear Forum, which represents 12 nuclear industry organisations, said on 3 April 2018 that the phase-out would harm Belgium’s chances of achieving its climate targets, adding that emissions would triple by 2050. The Forum added: “Even if the share of renewable energies increases considerably in the coming years, we will have to resort to complementary sources of energy. “Nuclear energy makes it possible to maintain affordable prices, to guarantee our security of supply and to achieve the climate objectives in limiting our CO2 emissions.” The Doel and Tihange units are licensed until the end of 2025, and the phase-out will simply be a case of not renewing their permits. Both plants have been the focus of safety concerns. Micro-cracks were discovered in reactors at both sites in 2013 and units closed until 2015 while extensive safety checks were carried out.
