Belgium Freezes Tihange Cooling Tower Demolition

Walloon Minister of Territory François Desquesnes has frozen the planned destruction of the cooling towers at Belgium’s Tihange nuclear power station, effectively blocking the dismantling of two reactors just as the federal government pushes forward with plans to nationalise the country’s nuclear fleet. The decision, announced on 22 May 2026, creates a strategic pause that aligns with the federal government’s ambitions to reverse Belgium’s long-standing nuclear phase-out.

The Minister’s Decision

Desquesnes (Les Engagés) confirmed the validity of the urban planning and environmental permit granted to Engie for demolishing the cooling towers of Tihange 1 and Tihange 2. However, he added a critical suspensive condition: no demolition work can proceed without approval from the federal government, as reported by RTBF.

“The dossier is a mixed dossier where the urban planning and environmental parts are intimately linked to the nuclear parts,” Desquesnes explained. “The Walloon Region says that from an environmental and urban planning standpoint, there is no difficulty in the strict sense. But since it’s a mixed dossier, federal agreement is also needed.”

This legal reasoning leverages Belgium’s complex federal structure: the Regions hold competence for urban planning and environment, while the federal government controls nuclear matters. By requiring both approvals, the minister has effectively handed control of the demolition timeline to the national government — the very government that wants to keep the reactors running.

A Pause That Aligns with Federal Ambitions

The decision comes at a pivotal moment for Belgian energy policy. Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s Arizona coalition government — comprising N-VA, MR, Les Engagés, CD&V, and Vooruit — reversed Belgium’s nuclear phase-out law in early 2025 and is now pursuing an even more ambitious goal: the nationalisation of all seven nuclear reactors from French utility Engie, as reported by the BBC.

On 30 April 2026, the government announced plans for a “full takeover” of the nuclear fleet, with a target agreement date of 1 October 2026. De Wever stated the move would ensure “safe, affordable and sustainable energy, with less dependence on fossil fuel imports.”

The World Nuclear News reported that the government also aims to construct an additional 4 GWe of nuclear capacity, effectively doubling Belgium’s current nuclear output.

The City of Huy’s Role

The immediate trigger for Desquesnes’ decision was a suspensive appeal filed by the city of Huy, led by socialist Mayor Christophe Collignon. The city had challenged the demolition permit, arguing that destroying the cooling towers would foreclose the possibility of extending the reactors’ operational lives.

Collignon noted a striking paradox: “Clearly and in practice for the citizen, this means that the appeal by the city of Huy — which was the only one capable of suspending the decision — actually allows the federal government, if it wishes, to extend Tihange 1, or even Tihange 2.”

For Huy, the stakes are profoundly economic. The nuclear plant employs over 1,000 workers and is a cornerstone of the local economy. “From a socio-economic standpoint, this allows a perspective of relaunching nuclear activity in our region, which is of extremely fundamental importance for our economic fabric,” Collignon said.

Engie’s Difficult Position

Engie finds itself caught between two conflicting legal frameworks. The company had been proceeding with decommissioning permits under Belgium’s original phase-out law, which mandated the shutdown of all reactors. Engie had obtained the demolition permit for the Tihange 1 and 2 cooling towers in July 2025 and planned to begin demolition in September 2026.

However, the policy reversal has put Engie in an untenable position. The company had already paused all dismantling work due to the ongoing nationalisation negotiations. Engie CEO Vincent Verbeke has previously stated that extending Tihange 1 is “unthinkable,” arguing that the necessary preparatory work should have begun years ago.

According to World Nuclear News, Tihange 1 was shut down on 30 September 2025 after 50 years of operation. Tihange 2 had been shut down since February 2023. Only Tihange 3 remains operational, licensed until 2035.

What Happens Next

In the short term, nothing changes on the ground — Engie had already paused dismantling due to the nationalisation negotiations. But the minister’s decision has significant implications for the timeline.

The ball now rests with federal Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet (MR) and Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR), who must decide whether to approve or block the demolition. Given the government’s stated ambition to keep the reactors operational, approval seems unlikely.

The critical deadline remains 1 October 2026, when the state buyout of Engie’s nuclear fleet is expected to be finalised. If the deal goes through, decommissioning plans would be suspended entirely, and the question of extending Tihange 1 — despite Engie’s opposition — could become a live issue.

A Microcosm of Belgium’s Nuclear Dilemma

The Tihange cooling tower dispute encapsulates the broader tensions in Belgium’s energy transition. A government that reversed a 20-year phase-out policy now finds itself at odds with the operator of its nuclear plants, constrained by its own federal structure, and navigating the competing interests of local communities, energy security, and climate commitments.

The cooling towers of Tihange 1 and 2 will stand for now — a physical symbol of a nation wrestling with its nuclear future.