Europe > Western Europe > Belgium > Belgian public reveal mixed support for nuclear power

Belgium: Belgian public reveal mixed support for nuclear power

2012/03/03

Around 58% of Belgians are in favor of keeping nuclear power in the generation mix, a survey commissioned by nuclear sector group Forum Nucleaire shows.

Belgium formed a new coalition government in December 2011, and announced a plan to begin the phase-out of nuclear power in 2015 provided its studies show that sufficient replacement generation can be built. There are reactors in Belgium with a total capacity of 5.9 GW, most of which is controlled by GDF Suez subsidiary Electrabel.

According to the survey, which was carried out by TNS Media late last year, 69% of the 1,000 people questioned said it appeared difficult to find sufficient replacement power capacity for the nuclear fleet. However, 62% were in favor of reducing the share of nuclear power in the generation mix.

The oldest nuclear plants in Belgium, Doel 1, Doel 2 and Tihange 1, reach the end of their 40 year operation license in 2015 and would require authorization for a further 10 years of operations under the current lifespan extension process.

The Belgian public's fears over power prices and energy security were highlighted in the survey. Some 74% of those questioned said electricity prices would likely rise if nuclear power is phased out while 60% said nuclear power contributed to the country's energy independence.

According to Forum Nucleaire, the Francophone area of the country was additional critical of nuclear power than those living in the north of the country. A survey carried out in neighboring France in June 2011 showed that around three quarters of French people support either a quick or gradual exit from nuclear power. France currently generates around three quarters of its power from nuclear plants.

France found itself within a shrinking group of European nations in favor of nuclear generation since Japan's Fukushima disaster in March 2011. Germany and Switzerland have decided to pull out of nuclear power generation, while Italy scrapped plans to build new plants.

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