Belgium on Thursday officially abandoned plans to phase out nuclear power, with parliament voting to scrap a two-decades-old pledge and to allow for the construction of new reactors.
Lawmakers in Brussels backed the new conservative-led government’s plan to revive the country’s nuclear industry with 102 votes in favour, eight against and 31 abstentions.
Belgium’s 2003 nuclear phase-out law set closure dates for existing reactors and banned new ones. Though efforts to repeal it have failed for years, Thursday’s vote has now paved the way for change.
And the country needs it. Its aging nuclear reactors provided just over 18% of Belgium’s energy needs in 2023, with oil (38.8%) and natural gas (26%) being the largest energy sources.
