Belgium’s planned phaseout of nuclear energy by 2025 will have “substantial negative impact” on security of supply, carbon dioxide emissions, employment, overall nuclear knowhow and electricity prices, the Brussels-based Belgian Nuclear Forum has warned.

The forum said a phaseout of the country’s seven commercial nuclear units by 2025 could double electricity production costs by 2050. Belgium’s trade deficit could increase by €3.7/MWh by 2030 and the cost of electricity imports could rise to €300m. “All of these worrying findings come from independent research by academia, think tanks and research bodies,” said Serge Dauby, the forum’s managing director.

Studies suggest carbon dioxide emissions from electricity production could triple by 2050, with four million additional tonnes of CO2 by 2030 and 19 million tonnes per year as of 2030. Greenhouse gas emissions would be 47% higher by 2030 than 2010.