In front of Green Chair Meyrem Almaci the energy agreement that has just been concluded is an important step towards one hundred percent renewable energy. “Ever since the war broke out in Ukraine, energy prices have skyrocketed. The acceleration of renewable energy is the best way to become energy independent and to structurally reduce energy bills.
Almaci is also pleased that, in the context of security of supply, the government has decided to provide sufficient flexible energy in the form of gas-fired power plants by 2025. “The need for flexible gas-fired power stations is the result of 20 years of non-policy, the energy switch to renewable energy is the result of our policy,” concludes Almaci.
Federal opposition party N-VA responds “both relieved and incensed” to the federal government’s energy deal. According to energy specialist Bert Wollants, it is a good thing that the nuclear phase-out will not take place in 2025, but the extension by 10 years does not go far enough, according to him. According to Wollants, an extension of at least 20 years was needed.
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Technologiefederatie Agoria points out that a war in Ukraine was necessary, resulting in a deep energy crisis, to make clear how important energy supplies are,” says CEO Bart Steukers.
“Even if it is only about starting negotiations, today’s decision offers perspective to both energy consumers and investors and therefore also suppliers of energy technology. It was necessary that the energy agreement also contains a number of measures for the longer term, namely the acceleration of the energy transition,” says Bart Steukers.
“The announced investments in renewable energy, hydrogen and nuclear energy will significantly reduce the carbon intensity of the Belgian energy mix, according to Agoria, something that companies also find increasingly important. After all, customers increasingly expect a climate-neutral product or service. With regard to wind energy, it remains to be seen how this will take shape, with specific attention to appeal procedures at the Council of State.”
Voka, the Flemish network of companies, is relieved about the fundamental decision of the federal government to extend the life of the two youngest nuclear reactors in our country by 10 years. “The federal government is making the right decision. We must not depend on unstable foreign regimes for our energy supply. We must opt for the energy mix that minimizes the risk of power shortages. And we have to drastically limit CO2 emissions,” says Hans Maertens, CEO of Voka.
“We are pleased that the federal government has finally succeeded in reaching a consensus in energy policy,” said UNIZO CEO Danny Van Assche. “That alone is a big step forward.”
UNIZO points out that compared to other EU Member States, Flanders still lags far behind in the construction of heating and cooling networks and microgrids. For example, the number of charging stations for electric cars must be drastically expanded.
“In the longer term, we should not all produce renewable energy ourselves in our small country. Via a pan-European electricity network, we can obtain energy from places in Europe where there is enough space and where nature plays to our advantage. That is cheap solar energy from the south and wind energy from the north,” says Danny Van Assche.
It Federation of Belgian Enterprises (FEB) wants to study all the details of the decision before responding in detail. “But in the business world a threefold feeling prevails. First of all, we are relieved that the decision regarding the extension of the nuclear reactors has been taken. We are also pleased with the determined intentions to accelerate the energy transition”, says CEO Pieter Timmermans. Finally, the FEB hopes that there is now also a sense of urgency to quickly obtain the required permits for the much-needed investments to effectively realize the future energy mix.
Engiewhich operates the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 nuclear reactors, will study together with the government the feasibility and implementation conditions of the solutions envisaged at this stage.
The operator also points out that the decision of the federal government to extend the service life of the two youngest reactors is accompanied by significant requirements in terms of safety, regulation and implementation.
Chosen for both plague and cholera
Bond Better Environment on Greenpeace are not pleased with the agreement reached by the government on Friday about keeping nuclear reactors Doel 4 and Tihange 3 open for longer. “This is a major missed opportunity to rewrite our energy future”, the environmental organizations say.
For Jan Vande Putte of Greenpeace it is “incomprehensible” that the government wants to remain dependent on nuclear energy any longer. “Even in peacetime, nuclear power plants pose an unacceptable risk with serious consequences, especially in densely populated areas such as around Doel and Tihange,” he says. “Moreover, a possible extension will not dampen high energy prices, improve security of supply, and hardly reduce gas consumption.”
Benjamin Clarysse vanBond Beter Leefmilieu also finds the rest of the agreement disappointing. “How can we claim that we want to reduce our dependence on Russian oil while maintaining such an advantageous tax regime for company cars and fuel cards? There needs to be a paradigm shift and we don’t see that in today’s decision.”
The Citizens’ Movements counteract on Stop nuclear energy say: “With nuclear energy and fossil gas, the government has opted for both the plague and the cholera”, says Tegengas.
The citizens’ movement says it is determined not to resign itself to the decision. “On the streets and in the courts, we will do everything we can to ban both nuclear energy and fossil gas to the dustbin of history as soon as possible.”
Stop Nuclear Energy is also not pleased with the agreement reached. “A frequently heard argument for the extension of the two youngest nuclear power plants is Europe’s dependence on Russian gas. However, betting on nuclear energy does not offer a solution,” says Leo Tubbax of Stop Kernenergie.
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