This is not the first time that the plenary has debated the nuclear exit. The discussion was revived this week by a call from employers to keep the two youngest nuclear power plants open after 2025 — a possibility foreseen in the coalition agreement.
The majority party MR has been in favor of extending the lifespan for some time, but Open Vld and CD&V also seem to be opening the door a little further. The geopolitical situation and the influence on gas prices are also considered.
Minister Van der Straeten confirmed that the government will take the plunge on March 18. “We’re not going to do that based on an opinion, a Facebook ad or gut feeling. But on the basis of figures, reports and studies,” the green minister underlined.
She also argued that no one today escapes high energy prices. They are therefore separate from the core exit. Moreover, 40-year-old power stations will not help us with low prices and security of supply, says Van der Straeten. She referred to France, where today 20 percent of the nuclear power plants are out.
She immediately put the role of Russian gas — and the conflict with Ukraine — on our country in perspective. Four percent of our gas comes from Russia. We need a third of the volumes entering Belgium ourselves, which should therefore not jeopardize supplies. In addition, three quarters of the gas is supplied directly to the end user. The nuclear exit has no impact on that, it said.