BRUSSELS — Belgium is seeking to nationalize its nuclear power industry, Prime Minister Bart De Wever announced Thursday, in a bid to keep running parts of its aging reactor fleet that were otherwise headed toward closure.
De Wever said the government would explore a “full takeover” of Belgium’s seven nuclear reactors. In the meantime, plans to dismantle the five reactors that were shut down between 2022 and 2025 will be suspended, keeping the option of extending their license or potentially restarting them.
The move highlights the growing centrality of government intervention in Europe’s nuclear industry, as private companies shy from the costs and risks associated with the sector.
It comes as the EU doubles down on electrification, renewables and nuclear to reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel imports, amid rising energy prices caused by the war in Iran.
