Belgium’s government has launched a bold plan to nationalize its nuclear power industry, announcing a full takeover of French energy giant Engie’s nuclear assets in the country, including seven reactors managed by its Electrabel subsidiary.
Prime Minister Bart De Wever confirmed the move, signaling a reversal of decades-old policies to phase out nuclear energy amid soaring energy costs and geopolitical instability.
The negotiations, which began with a letter of intent signed on Thursday, aim to secure control over all nuclear operations, staff, assets, and liabilities such as waste management. Of the seven reactors—located at Doel near Antwerp and Tihange in the Liège region—only two remain operational, with licenses extended to 2035 under a 2023 agreement. The other five, shut down between 2022 and 2025, were slated for dismantling, a process now halted with immediate effect as the government explores restarting or extending their lifetimes.
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De Wever framed the decision as a cornerstone of Belgium’s energy strategy. “This government chooses safe, affordable, and sustainable energy,” he said. “With less dependence on fossil imports and more control over our own supply.”
The push comes against a backdrop of escalating energy prices, intensified by the war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which have driven Belgium’s energy inflation up 10.6% in April alone. This marks the second major shock to European energy markets since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, prompting a broader rethink of nuclear power across the continent. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently called Europe’s retreat from nuclear a “strategic mistake,” a sentiment echoed by a 2024 EU survey showing 56% of citizens view nuclear energy positively for the future.
Belgium’s nuclear ambitions target securing 4 gigawatts of capacity by 2040, according to Sylvain Cognet-Dauphin, a senior analyst at S&P Global. Restarting aging reactors or extending their operational lives requires billions in investment, alongside risks tied to construction, waste, and political uncertainty—challenges private operators like Engie are increasingly unwilling to shoulder.
Engie, which has prioritized investments in wind, solar, batteries, and gas-powered stations, faced criticism from De Wever for its reluctance to align with Belgium’s nuclear goals. “Engie has made a decision to leave nuclear. We respect that, but a country with nuclear ambitions and an operator wanting to get out is not a good combination,” he told Flemish broadcaster VRT.
The nationalization plan builds on last year’s reversal of a 2003 law that banned new nuclear plants and limited existing ones to 40-year lifespans, a policy driven by safety concerns that saw nuclear’s share of Belgium’s electricity drop from 60% in the early 2000s to about 40% today. Now, with negotiations expected to conclude by October, the government is positioning nuclear as a pillar of energy autonomy in a volatile global market.
Europe’s broader shift is evident, with countries like France maintaining state-owned nuclear operations through EDF and Poland pursuing state-led nuclear projects. Belgium’s move underscores a growing consensus that government intervention is essential to sustain the sector. As Cognet-Dauphin noted, “Nuclear retirements are not considered mainstream in Europe anymore.”
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