Countries plan to work together of lifetime extensions and small modular reactors
Belgium and France have signed a declaration of intent that they said marks a new stage in cooperation in nuclear energy and is in line with the ongoing revival of the industry.
The agreement, signed in Paris on 22 July by Belgium’s energy minister Mathieu Bihet and his French counterpart Marc Ferracci, aims to strengthen exchanges between the two governments in key areas including lifetime extensions of existing reactors and the development of new projects, including small modular reactors (SMRs).
Brussels and Paris also aim to work together on research and innovation, supply chains and training and skills.
Bihet said in a statement that each area of cooperation will be the subject of individual projects and specific working groups.
He said the partnership is based on the shared ambition of making nuclear power a “strategic lever for a more sustainable, competitive and resilient Europe”.
“It demonstrates a desire to make nuclear power not only a tool for transition, but also an industrial and scientific pillar for future generations,” Bihet said.
“Nuclear power is a promising sector at the heart of the energy transition. With France, we share a common vision: a Europe that produces, innovates, and protects.”
According to Bihet, Belgium is assuming its role in building a “robust, innovative and sovereign European energy mix”.
In May, Belgium’s parliament voted to drop the country’s planned nuclear phaseout in what was welcomed by the industry at the time as a decisive step for the economic, environmental and strategic future of the country.
A 2003 nuclear phaseout law imposed a closure date on Belgium’s nuclear power plants, while also prohibiting the construction of new ones.
The Revival Of Belgium’s Nuclear Industry
Bihet said the partnership with France is in line with the revival of the nuclear industry in Belgium.
“After opening up the field of possibilities with the repeal of the 2003 law, we are now moving on to a new stage, that of the concrete construction of cooperation,” he said.
Earlier this month Belgium’s nuclear regulator approved the restart of the Tihange-3 nuclear power plant.
In March 2022, in light of concerns about security of supply in the context of the energy crisis and the Russian war against Ukraine, the Belgian federal government decided to keep Tihange-3 and Doel-4 in operation for an additional 10 years. Doel-4 is being prepared for further operation.
In February, the Doel-1 nuclear power plant was permanently shut down, bringing the number of commercial reactors in operation in the country to four. Doel-3 and Tihange-2 had already been shut down in 2022 and 2023.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Belgium’s four nuclear plants provided about 57% of the country’s electricity production in 2024.
France has ambitious plans for new nuclear power plants with EDF aiming to begin preparatory works for a new EPR2 nuclear plant at the existing Penly nuclear site in northern France.
It has 57 operational nuclear units generating about 67% of its electricity production, the highest percentage ahead of Slovakia 60% from five plants and Hungary with 47% from four plants.
