Belgium Moves to Buy Back Nuclear Assets from Engie as Phase-Out Policy Is Reversed

Belgium has opened exclusive negotiations with French energy group Engie over a possible state takeover of the country’s nuclear assets, marking a significant reversal of its long-standing policy of withdrawing from atomic energy.

The proposed transaction would cover all nuclear activities currently owned and operated by Engie and its Belgian subsidiary Electrabel, including Belgium’s seven reactors at the Doel and Tihange sites, as well as related staff, infrastructure and operational assets, according to Reuters.

Pending the negotiations, decommissioning and dismantling work at the plants is to be halted. The decision indicates that Belgium is no longer simply delaying its nuclear exit, but is preparing to reassess the ownership and long-term role of its nuclear infrastructure.

Prime Minister Bart De Wever said the government’s objective was to secure a more stable national energy supply. In a statement on X, he said the government was choosing “a secure, affordable and long-lasting source of energy” with reduced reliance on fossil fuels and greater national control over supply.

The move follows months of renewed discussion between Brussels and Engie over the future of Belgium’s nuclear fleet. Under a previous arrangement, the two youngest reactors, Doel 4 and Tihange 3, were to remain in operation until 2035. Engie’s own information on nuclear energy in Belgium notes that these two reactors were due to continue operating until their 50th anniversary under the Phoenix agreement with the Belgian government.

Belgium’s nuclear policy has shifted repeatedly over the past two decades. A 2003 phase-out law envisaged the closure of the country’s reactors, but concerns over energy security, intensified by Europe’s recent energy crisis and uncertainty over gas supplies, have led Brussels to reconsider the role of nuclear power in the national energy mix.

The latest step goes beyond lifetime extension. It would place Belgium’s nuclear assets under state control, ending Engie’s dominant role in the ownership and operation of the sector. According to The Brussels Times, the plan would cover not only the two active reactors but also shut-down units, nuclear infrastructure and personnel.

The proposed acquisition also reflects a wider European debate over nuclear energy, security of supply and industrial competitiveness. Several EU member states have reassessed earlier decisions to close reactors, particularly as electricity-intensive industries face high energy costs and governments seek lower-carbon sources of baseload power.

For Belgium, the issue is both economic and strategic. The country remains heavily integrated into the north-west European electricity market, and any change in Belgian generating capacity has implications for neighbouring states. In February 2025, EU competition regulators approved Belgian state aid for extending the life of Doel 4 and Tihange 3, saying the reactors were important for electricity supply security in Belgium and surrounding countries, according to Reuters.

The financial terms of the proposed takeover have not yet been disclosed. Any agreement is likely to involve complex negotiations over asset valuation, decommissioning liabilities, nuclear waste responsibilities and future investment. These issues have long been central to the Belgian state’s dealings with Engie, particularly because nuclear closure costs may extend over decades.

Engie has previously signalled caution over further nuclear commitments in Belgium. In February, Reuters reported that the company regarded Belgium’s nuclear ambitions with reservations and that any future extension would depend on a stable and predictable framework for costs and liabilities.

If completed, the takeover would amount to one of the most important changes in Belgian energy policy in a generation. It would also mark a broader departure from the liberalised model under which private operators retained control of major generating assets while the state shaped policy through regulation, subsidy and long-term agreements.

The government is presenting the move as a means of retaining strategic options. By suspending dismantling work, Brussels keeps open the possibility of extending or restarting parts of the existing nuclear fleet, subject to regulatory approval, technical assessment and safety requirements.

For Engie, the negotiations could provide a way to settle a long-running question over its Belgian nuclear exposure. For the Belgian state, the potential acquisition would increase direct responsibility for nuclear safety, investment and long-term waste management.

The immediate effect is political as much as operational. Belgium is no longer merely delaying its nuclear exit. It is preparing to take direct control of the assets at the centre of that policy reversal.

Main Image: Par EmDee — Travail personnel, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=132622551