London (Platts)--6Aug2007

"Some" of Belgium's nuclear plants may escape the country's nuclear phase-out
law, according to an agreement reached between the ruling Christian Democratic
and Liberal parties forming a new government coalition in Belgium. 

The statement by the "formation group" issued August 2 does not specify how
many or which reactors. A Christian Democrat spokeswoman, Miet Deckers, said
August 3 that reports that as many as five of Belgium's seven reactors may be
exempted from the phase-out law's 40-year limitation are only speculation.
Deckers is a spokesman for Yves Leterme, leader of the Christian Democrats and
widely expected to be the new prime minister. She acknowledged that some party
members are saying only Doel-1 and -2 will be forced to close, but she
emphasized that the parties have reach no agreement on such details. Doel-1
and -2 reach 40 years' operation in 2015. 

The joint statement by the formation group is seen as the first move toward
negotiation between the new government and Suez-Electrabel over reversing the
nuclear phase-out law in exchange for investment from the nuclear operators in
alternative energy projects, such as renewables and carbon sequestration, one
Belgian nuclear industry source said August 3. 

The official August 2 statement cites security of supply, CO2 emission worries
and the prospects of using low-cost nuclear energy to fund renewables, as the
reason for the decision.