Overview
- A Thursday announcement from the government and Engie ordered all decommissioning to stop and began exclusive talks on a full state takeover.
- The negotiations cover seven reactors, nuclear staff and subsidiaries, plus all assets and liabilities, with a goal to set framework terms by October 1.
- Engie signed a letter of intent and plans to exit Belgian nuclear operations as the state seeks sole control of its reactor fleet.
- Belgium still runs two units at Doel and Tihange after extending their lives to 2035, while five units are shut, including Tihange 2 where 2012 tests found thousands of small cracks in the pressure vessel.
- The transfer would include decommissioning and waste duties with costs still unclear, as industry groups cheered the shift and Greenpeace and the Belgian Greens warned of heavy taxpayer risks.