The 2003 law initially scheduled the shutdown of Belgium’s nuclear reactors, with Doel 1 originally set to close on February 15, 2015. Amendments in 2013 and 2015 extended Doel 1’s operation by ten years, but Doel 3 ceased operations in September 2022, followed by Tihange 2 in January 2023. Tihange 1 is slated to shut down in October 2025, and Doel 2 in December 2025. The last two reactors, Doel 4 and Tihange 3, were due to close in November 2025, but negotiations with Electrabel, a subsidiary of Engie, began in 2022 to extend their operation for another decade, with an agreement finalized in December.
The legislation, proposed by Mathieu Bihet before he became Belgium’s energy minister, was termed the “Bihet Law.” The government stated: “By approving with a large majority the law that heralds the return of nuclear energy in our country, the federal parliament leaves behind two decades of blockages and hesitations to pave the way for a realistic and resilient energy model.”
Energy Minister Bihet added: “With this new law, Belgium is finally giving itself the means to guarantee an energy mix that is based on today’s reality. It is no longer a matter of pitting energy sources against each other in a binary and sterile way, but of using them pragmatically and complementary.”
The Belgian Nuclear Forum welcomed the decision, with managing director Serge Dauby stating: “It is not just a symbolic victory, this is really a historic milestone. At last, we as Belgium, a country with an enormous amount of nuclear know-how, are signaling to the rest of the world that we are once again taking a rational look at energy policy and the climate challenge.”
In Denmark, parliament voted on May 15 to investigate the potential use of nuclear power, banned since 1985. Minister for Climate, Energy, and Utilities Lars Aagaard stated: “Denmark has no recent experience with nuclear power, which is why it is important that we start analysing the potential. Can this technology complement what will be dominant in our country: solar and wind?” A report on nuclear power’s benefits is expected in 2026.
These developments aim to enhance energy security and support domestic consumption through a balanced energy mix, with Belgium and Denmark exploring nuclear options to meet sustainable energy demands.
