Belgium considers extending working life of Tihange 1 nuclear reactor

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) - Belgium’s federal government is considering prolonging the working life of the Tihange 1 nuclear reactor beyond its scheduled closure later this year, despite resistance from the plant’s operator and the country’s nuclear watchdog.

Federal Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet plans to open talks with energy firms Engie and EDF Luminus on extending the reactor’s lifespan by another decade, Belgian daily De Tijd reported on Tuesday.

The government has already agreed to keep the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 reactors running until 2035.

Engie, which operates nuclear plants in Doel and Tihange, has expressed hesitation about seeking a second extension for Tihange 1, whose operating life was already extended once by 10 years.

Belgium’s high-voltage grid operator Elia has warned that the network near Liege would not be equipped to handle the reactor’s output after this year, and reinforcements would not be ready before 2031 or 2032.

The Federal Agency for Nuclear Control has also underlined that Tihange 1 must undergo a full 10-year safety review before any restart. The process has not yet started and could take years, with potential costs running into several billion euros.