Belgium: The Belgian State and Engie Seal the Future of Tihange 3 and Doel 4
On March 14, 2025, after months of negotiations, Belgium and Engie officially concluded an agreement enabling the ten-year extension of the Tihange 3 and Doel 4 nuclear reactors. At the same time, the Belgian state agreed to take over responsibility for nuclear waste management, ending a major financial uncertainty for the French energy group.
Although Belgium committed in 2003 to phasing out nuclear power, the energy crisis, the war in Ukraine, and soaring energy prices have changed the landscape. In light of these new realities, the government was forced to revise its strategy and rely on a stable, dispatchable source of electricity. This policy reversal, approved by the European Commission on February 21, 2025, thus led to the ten-year life extension of the Tihange 3 and Doel 4 reactors. In return, Engie secured substantial financial compensation: an initial contribution of €11.5 billion was made to settle obligations related to nuclear waste and used fuel. A second payment of €3.5 billion will be made once the reactors resume operation in November 2025.
A partnership under close scrutiny
From now on, Doel 4 and Tihange 3 will be operated by a joint venture equally owned by Engie and the Belgian state. A Contract for Difference mechanism guarantees financial balance between the two parties, limiting their exposure to fluctuations in the electricity market.
For Engie, this agreement marks a strategic turning point. The company, long concerned about the enormous costs of decommissioning and nuclear waste management, is transferring full responsibility for these tasks to the Belgian state. The government will be responsible for managing this legacy until 2135 — a long-term logistical and financial challenge.
Target: restart by late 2025
Preparatory work has already begun to ensure the reactors’ return to service. In the coming months, nuclear fuel will be delivered to the Doel and Tihange sites. The Federal Agency for Nuclear Control is expected to give its final approval in June 2025 — a necessary step before restarting operations. Meanwhile, plant infrastructure will undergo modernization, with scheduled technical outages planned from April to July for Tihange 3 and from July to October for Doel 4.
A door ajar for Belgium’s nuclear future?
While Engie had long maintained it did not wish to extend the lifetime of any other reactors, the group is now adopting a more nuanced position. It says it is open to discussions with the Belgian government about the future of nuclear energy in the country.
Federal Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet welcomed the agreement as a strategic breakthrough that reinforces Belgium’s energy independence. He hinted that further talks may follow — possibly regarding the extension of other units or the development of new nuclear capacity. This policy shift reflects a broader truth: amid an ongoing energy crisis, nuclear power is once again asserting itself as a central pillar of Belgium’s energy mix. ■