BELGIUM: PROVISIONAL RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001951 SIPDIS USDOC FOR 4212/ITA/MAC/EUR/OECA/WNE/JLEVINE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG TRGY BEXP BTIO BE SUBJECT: BELGIUM: PROVISIONAL RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON BELGIUM'S NUCLEAR ENERGY PLANS REF: STATE 127468 ¶1. Belgium has no immediate plans to expand its nuclear power program. Under existing law passed in the late 1990's, Belgium will be required to shutter its two existing nuclear power plants (that are comprised of seven reactors: three at Tihange in Wallonia, and four at Doel, in Flanders) by 2015, when they are scheduled to meet the normal end of their life-cycle, although it would not be a surprise or controversial if the law were amended before that time to permit the plants to continue to function, and a study commissioned by the Ministry of Energy in 2006 suggested that the nuclear phase-out should be reconsidered. One Belgian nuclear energy sector expert indicated to post that the plants' operating life could easily be extended 10 or 20 years. ¶2. The Belgian government has commissioned a study by independent experts on the country's energy situation, to be completed sometime after regional elections set for June, 2009 (Note: on December 22, the King accepted the resignation of the current government, which will nonetheless stay in power as a caretaker government until a new government can be formed; this process could take an unknown amount of time. Post'sassumption is that the energy study commissioned by the Government will be carried out, but it is too soon to know for sure. End note.) The post-election date was selected so that the energy issue would not become involved in domestic politics. An advisor to the Minister of Energy told the Embassy that the Ministry expects the report to assist the government in making choices about energy supply, including on whether to increase the nuclear energy component. The advisor said the current Minister is taking a pragmatic view on nuclear energy, and is neither 'pro' or 'con' nuclear power, and for that reason asked for the report. ¶3. Belgium's nuclear power is produced by Electrabel, a subsidiary of Gaz de France/Suez; Electrabel announced in mid-December 2008 that it was ceding rights to some of its production (500 MW) from its Belgian nuclear plants to the German energy company E.on, as part of a larger commercial transaction with E.on designed to meet requirements for reducing Electrabel's dominant position of Belgium's electric generation; E.on in turn will offer 700 MW from three nuclear plants to Belgium. ¶4. According to the latest International Energy Agency statistics, in 2008 through September, nuclear power provided over 52 percent of the country's domestically produced electricity (and just under 44 percent of total electricity, including imports--Belgium is a net importer of electricity). ¶5. The Government is not involved in financing of nuclear plants, which is carried out by industry. ¶6. Post did not have the opportunity to meet with representatives of Belgium's regulatory authority, or with private sector actors, in the time frame given, but will report the results of such a meeting once it takes place. The Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (AFCN) is the main regulator. ¶7. The civil nuclear power sector is dominated by the French company Suez; a Belgian nuclear sector expert with long experience in the industry indicates that many experts and employees in the nuclear industry are from France, but post does not have detailed information to confirm that statement. The same expert indicated that Belgium does not have enough home-grown experts in the sector, as few young people in recent years have elected to study (or be trained in) nuclear-related matters. ¶8. Post understands that Westinghouse Electric provides services to the civil nuclear energy industry in Belgium; post was unable to confirm if other U.S. companies also do so. ¶9. Post will report additional information in response to reftel request, as acquired. BUSH .