Article

2021-12-24 Europe

Belgium to phasing out all its nuclear plants by 2025

[EN.ALGHADEERTV.NET] Belgium will shut all seven of its nuclear reactors by 2025 but will not close the door on new-generation nuclear technology, according to a deal reached by the coalition government yesterday.A government source said the all-night negotiations included an agreement of "investments of around 100 million euros (US$113 million) on small modular reactors."

Progressively phasing out nuclear power has been enshrined in Belgian law since 2003. The final date is 2025, a target the government committed to meet when it took office in October 2020.

But the issue has divided the governing seven-party coalition of greens, socialists, and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo’s liberals.

The French-speaking liberal MR party argued against completely abandoning nuclear power, the strategy proposed by Phlegmish green Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten.

They said some of Belgium’s current nuclear capacity should be retained as new gas-fired power stations planned to secure energy supplies were too polluting.

Belgian broadcaster RTBF reported that a ministerial meeting agreed to invest in "renewable and carbon-neutral energies," including new-generation nuclear power.

The government source said the budget for investing in the technology had already been prepared.

The source added the compromise retains the energy minister’s "scenario A" and "confirms the investment mechanism put in place to replace current nuclear power, which is obsolete."

Nuclear power has also divided other EU member states as the bloc wrangles over including it and natural gas on the bloc’s list of sustainable energy sources eligible for investment. The list exists to promote greener energies and facilitate the transition to a carbon-neutral future.

Internal market commissioner Thierry Breton on Monday said he expected the list to include nuclear power and natural gas when it is presented in January.

But critics say nuclear power is not climate-friendly and should be phased out in favor of other energy sources.

Posted by Fred 2021-12-24 00:00|| || Front Page|| [21 views ] Top

#1 Welcome to the dark side.

Posted by Deacon Blues 2021-12-24 08:46|| 2021-12-24 08:46|| Front Page Top

#2 I had a "Let the bastards freeze in the dark" bumper sticker back in the day.

Posted by M. Murcek 2021-12-24 08:48|| 2021-12-24 08:48|| Front Page Top

#3 77 years ago right now a lot of people got to find out what Belgian winter weather was like (Battle of the Bulge.) If 'global warming' doesn't come on strong in the next four years the Belgians will get a non-nuclear reminder.

Posted by Glenmore 2021-12-24 11:41|| 2021-12-24 11:41|| Front Page Top

#4 small modular reactors

Analyzing the Cost of Small Modular Reactors
and Alternative Power Portfolios

Posted by Skidmark 2021-12-24 13:04|| 2021-12-24 13:04|| Front Page Top

#5 They will be depending on French nuclear electricity instead...

Posted by magpie 2021-12-24 15:33|| 2021-12-24 15:33|| Front Page Top

#6 ZH is saying something to the contrary:
https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/netherlands-goes-nuclear-massive-atomic-humanist-victory

Posted by ed in texas 2021-12-24 15:41|| 2021-12-24 15:41|| Front Page Top

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