Closing of the agreement between ENGIE and the Belgian government
On March 14 2025, ENGIE and the Belgian government closed the agreement covering the 10-year extension of the Tihange 3 and Doel 4 nuclear reactors and the transfer of responsibility related to nuclear waste.
This final step following the European Commission’s approval on February 21 2025, resulted in the payment of the first instalment related to the transfer of responsibility for nuclear waste and spent fuel. The second instalment will be paid when the reactors restart in November 2025.
As a result of the transfer of all nuclear waste liabilities to the Belgian government, ENGIE will no longer be exposed to the evolution of future costs related to the treatment of waste.
Doel 4 and Tihange 3 will be held in a joint venture equally owned by the Belgian State and ENGIE, with a contract for difference mechanism allowing a balanced sharing of risks.
The preparatory works for the 10-year extension of the two nuclear reactors are in full progress. The remaining steps for the restart of Doel 4 and Tihange 3 are as follows:
- fuel deliveries to Doel and Tihange
- final validation of the extension file by the nuclear safety authority (June 2025)
- works on the nuclear units during the scheduled shutdown periods (April to July 2025 for Tihange 3, July to end of October 2025 for Doel 4)
With this closing, ENGIE strengthens its position as a leading energy transition utility in Belgium and a reliable partner for the Belgian authorities. Through the implementation of its #ENERGIZE2030 strategy, which focuses on Renewables, Flexibility and Clients, and by safely executing the agreed nuclear program, ENGIE is actively contributing to the creation of a resilient, affordable and low-carbon energy system for the future. Within the boundaries of its strategy, ENGIE will also be open for discussions on the federal energy policy on nuclear.
