Official inaction on a proposal to extend the working life of two of Belgium’s five remaining nuclear power plants is a reason for deep concern regarding the nation’s ability to handle demand for energy, Chris Peeters, head of Belgian grid operator Elia, said in an interview in L’Echo and De Tijd.

After years of lukewarm support for nuclear from the government, Belgium decided to close down all of its nuclear plants by 2025. In 2022, this deadline was extended by 10 years, but only for the Doel-4 and Tihange-3 units.

The extension decision was supported by Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo as a way to reduce dependence on Russian gas and was politically popular in the context of the war in Ukraine.