Overview

• The Belgian Parliament voted 102 to 8, with 31 abstentions, to repeal the 2003 law mandating a full nuclear phase-out by 2025.
• The decision extends the operational lifespans of Belgium's two remaining nuclear plants, Doel and Tihange, until 2045.
• Prime Minister Bart De Wever's government plans to construct new nuclear reactors as part of its energy strategy.
• Energy security concerns, exacerbated by Russia's war in Ukraine, were key drivers of the policy reversal.
• Neighboring Germany and the city of Aachen have raised safety concerns over structural issues in Belgium's aging reactors, particularly at Tihange.