The country looks to phase out nuclear power plants built with 20th-century technology
Come 2025, and Belgium will be all set to do the unthinkable in its efforts towards ensuring sustainable energy resources. The big thought that would prompt the world to applaud and possibly emulate comes in the form of a plan to eliminate the nation’s existing nuclear power plants.
The phasing out will be effected with the elimination of the nuclear plants built with 20th-century technology. The country is home to seven nuclear power plants.
The government would look at phasing out the nuclear plans while ushering in the use of gas as a bridge towards sustainable energy sources. However, many have been wondering whether the European nation would be able to ensure energy security if all the seven exiting nuclear facilities are eliminated.
Energy security & phase out of nuclear power plants
This is a concern the country’s leaders would want to mull over seriously before arriving at a final decision. Reportedly, Belgium’s government would keep two plants functioning so as to make sure that energy security is not compromised. However, a final decision on this front could be made known only by March next.
Alexander De Croo, the Prime Minister of Belgium, is also of the opinion that if there is a need to keep some open, two of them might be allowed to stay functional. To know exactly what the decision would be, we need to wait, though.
In the meanwhile, energy security concerns are being debated in the country and shutting down all seven nuclear plants are seen as a hassle. In this context, Belgium might also look at adopting the nuclear energy of the future even as it bids goodbye to the older plants.
Investing in smaller modular reactors mulled over
That could mean that the country could also look at investing in research focused on smaller modular nuclear reactors. It is common knowledge that many countries are for nuclear plants as they have proved to release minimal pollutants into the air. However, the construction and – of course demolition – could be a reason for the pushing out of huge amounts of greenhouse gases. Smaller nuclear reactors could well be an option in such a situation.
Belgium had witnessed a campaign to ensure phasing out of nuclear energy way back in 2003. However, governments that came to power ever since had not been able to reach a conclusive decision on that front. Now with the country’s administrative mechanism having a good presence of anti-nuclear Greens, a decision is round the corner.
