Five major issues behind the nuclear extension

Negotiations, which should be completed this week, are brewing wider than expected: post-nuclear bill, conflict over the taxation of surplus profits, public shareholding… The Belgian State is playing (very) big.

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Head of Investigations

By Xavier Counasse

Published on 26/12/2022 at 06:00Reading time: 10 mins

PFor a nuclear agreement under the tree, it’s missed. On the other hand, the federal government and the operator of the Engie Electrabel power plants still have the firm intention of concluding a big deal around the extension of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 reactors by New Year’s Eve. A deadline marked in the calendar since last July 21, the day when the two parties had concluded a three-page, non-binding pre-agreement. In this text, the date of December 31, 2022 is called “Go / no go date”. Understand: the day when the project will definitely receive a green light… or a red light. “The parties will endeavor to negotiate and reach binding legal agreements” before the end of 2022, as the terms and conditions negotiated in July “will cease to apply” beyond that date, the exchange reads. by summer’s consent.

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