Belgian universities are challenging the lifetime extension of nuclear power stations at the constitutional court
© Marc Herremans – Mediahuis
The Belgian universities appealed to the Constitutional Court against the 2024 law that regulates the extension of the lifetime of the Nuclear Reactors Doel 4 and Tihange 3, showed Tuesday from a question from Bert Wollants (N-VA) to Minister of Energie Mathieu Bihet in the competent Chamber Committee.
The universities dispute the fixed system that the managers enjoy the reactors in the context of the ceiling of their liability and the guarantee they receive against legislative changes. They feel discriminated against, since they do not enjoy such a fixed system in the treatment of nuclear waste that they produce.
Bihet fears the consequences if the universities argue at the Constitutional Court and the rules on the ceiling and the protection against legislative changes would be destroyed. « An essential part of the agreement would disappear, » the minister warned. « In that case, immediate consultation must be held with the operators of the reactors to see how they see the situation and whether other solutions are possible, » said the minister, who also wants to consult with the universities about their concern.
