Lower likelihood of restart for Belgium's Doel 3 and Tihange 2 reactors

According to a September 11 report by Le Soir, samples collected nearly two years ago from the reactor pressure vessels of Belgium's Doel 3 and Tihange 2 reactors indicate that the possibility of restarting these two nuclear reactors is extremely low. In the winter of 2024 to 2025, operator Engie successively took samples from the Doel 3 reactor pressure vessel and the Tihange 2 reactor pressure vessel. The sampling work was carried out at the request of the Belgian Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) and the Belgian National Agency for Radioactive Waste and Enriched Fissile Materials (NIRAS), which is responsible for radioactive waste management, with the aim of measuring in detail the radiation levels at different parts of the pressure vessels so as to classify and dispose of the related waste.

2026-09-13

Wachtebeke Municipal Council Reintroduces Nuclear Power Plant Motion

The municipal council of Wachtebeke, Belgium, has once again seen a motion regarding the construction of a nuclear power plant in Paulina Polder, but this time, unlike before, the motion has gained the support of the far-right PVV party. Previously, the plan had been highly controversial, with local residents and environmental organizations strongly opposing the construction of a new nuclear power plant in this sensitive wetland area. They fear irreversible environmental impacts and question the necessity of building new nuclear plants during the energy transition. The introduction of this motion marks a further strengthening of opposition to the project. The PVV's support increases the likelihood of the motion passing and places greater pressure on local authorities. More...

2026-08-01