Belgium will close its nuclear plants

AFP - Negotiators working on forming a new government in Belgium have agreed to phase out nuclear power Sunday from 2015, but without setting a precise date for the closing of the first slice, it was learned corroborating sources.

After two intense days of discussions Friday and Sunday, negotiators, led by the future prime minister approached, the socialist Elio Di Rupo, confirmed the principle of gradual closure of seven reactors in Belgium, which was contained in a 2003 law.

"We agreed on the fact back to the 2003 law," he told AFP Cauderlier Friedrich, spokesman for the Reform Movement (liberal) "but it was that the country can develop to a plan of strategic sourcing. "

So the new government will develop within six months after taking office a plan to replace equipment with new power energy sources diversified.

The effective date of the closing of first tranche will be fixed later, according to the schedule required for the implementation of alternatives to nuclear power.

The debate on the merits of nuclear power in Belgium was revived after the accident at Fukushima in March.

In 2003, under the leadership of Green parties while in government, the Belgian Parliament decided the phasing between 2015 and 2025, the seven Belgian reactors spread over sites Tihange (south) and Doel (north), the when they reach the age of 40.

In 2009, the government of Herman Van Rompuy, for lack of credible alternative, however, had an agreement with the operator stations Electrabel (GDF Suez) to extend a decade the three oldest reactors, expected to close in 2015.

But the government fell in late April 2010 and the ongoing political crisis in Belgium since prevented the Parliament to give legal effect to the agreement, which has therefore to be abandoned.

Depending on the alternatives available, the first tranches may close as early as 2015 or will be "prolonged one, two or three years," said another source told AFP.

The agreement Sunday night "is a signal to the private sector to ask him to invest for the transition energy," the source said.

In addition, negotiators have also agreed on the "nuclear tax".

Mr. Di Rupo, which must find some 10 billion euros in savings, had recently said it would probably increase the tax based on "Nuclear rent" enjoyed by producers in the form of extra revenue since the plants have been amortized.

This tax will be raised in proportions yet to be defined in budget negotiations, the sources said.