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Engie, the operator of the nuclear power plants in our country, has reached an interim agreement with the Belgian federal government on the . What stands out above all: the maximum bill for the disposal of nuclear waste, which is set at 15 billion euros.

In the news: The two parties set a maximum bill for the cost of : a figure of 15 billion euros. In recent weeks, the figure of 20 billion was circulating in the Wetstraat.

  • That amount will be transferred by Engie in two installments. The first part will be transferred in 2024 for category B and C waste (highly radioactive and long-lived waste). The second tranche, for category A waste (low-level waste), will follow when the reactors' lifetimes are effectively extended.
  • The energy company has already set aside some 17.3 billion in the Synatom Fund, a sum that will be used not only to dispose of nuclear waste but also to decommission the old nuclear reactors. Engie will set aside another 4.5 billion for that this year.
  • "Engie is paying 15 billion for the disposal of nuclear waste," federal Energy Minister Tinne van der Straeten (Green) announced. In addition to the 15 billion for nuclear waste disposal, the company has also provided another 8 billion for the decommissioning of the nuclear reactors. So a total of "at least" 23 billion is needed, it sounds.
  • The two parties will make a commitment to "do everything possible" to start up the two reactors in November 2026, or if possible even in November 2025. The latter will only be possible if regulatory changes can be made.
  • Also important, for Engie: there will be a price guarantee for electricity generated at the two nuclear reactors. To ensure that "the interests of both parties are aligned," a legal structure will also be set up for Tihange 3 and Doel 4, of which both parties will have joint ownership.
  • But perhaps more importantly, this is not yet a final agreement. The two sides want to finalize the details by the end of next month. After that, the deal must also be approved by the European Commission.

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