Federal Minister of Energy Tinne Van der Straeten (Green) is planning two or three new gas-fired power stations. They must also absorb the nuclear exit that is planned for 2025: a flexible addition to wind and solar energy, say. In this way, the aim is to maintain energy production in periods with little wind and/or sun.
Since 2003 – 18 years, that is – our country has been wrestling with the issue of the closure of nuclear power plants. Then the purple-green Verhofstadt I government decided to take action, but since then the process has come to a halt, mainly under pressure from the energy sector. By law, the seven Belgian nuclear power plants to close in 2025, and this is confirmed in the coalition agreement of the current federal government. Proponents of nuclear power argue that it is clean energy, while gas-fired power plants emit CO2. Opponents point to the problem of the storage of hazardous nuclear waste.
Of N-VA – federal in opposition but in the Flemish majority – disagrees with federal energy policy options. The party wants to keep the two most recent nuclear power plants open. The N-VA opts for a realistic scenario for the nuclear exit by 2065 at the latest on the party’s website.
“If plans are made at the federal level with Groen and Ecolo that do not benefit Flemish democracy, then I will make my voice heard and act accordingly,” threatened Flemish Minister of Energy Zuhal Demir (N-VA) last year. “The elections were about the affordability of the energy bill, I’m not going to adjust now.” It is Demir who has to consider a possible appeal procedure about the power station in Vilvoorde.
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