Bert Wollants clarifies the N-VA’s position on gas-fired power stations: “Gas-fired power stations are the absolute end of the road for us”

“Nobody is looking forward to those emissions or to throwing a lot of money at them.” The province of Flemish Brabant does not want to issue a permit for the construction of a gas-fired power station in Vilvoorde. MP Bert Wollants comments on the TV programme Terzake.

Gas-fired power stations are the absolute end of the road

The N-VA wants to keep the two newest nuclear power stations open so that we can continue to work on innovative techniques. “Gas-fired power stations are the absolute end of the road for us. This must only be done if there is really no other option: nobody is looking forward to those emissions or to throwing a lot of money at them. In that respect, we do think that steps must be taken to ensure the necessity of avoiding this. Everyone wants a better climate, so let’s act accordingly,” Bert Wollants says.

Uncertain whether gas-fired power stations will be built

Quite a few factors are not falling into place. The gas-fired power stations are not being granted permits, and very strict conditions have been imposed in the Walloon case regarding carbon capture. In addition, the European case on the auction for permission to build gas-fired power stations has not yet been approved. Bert Wollants is therefore very well aware that certain parties in the federal government are arguing at other levels for keeping some nuclear power stations open longer: “I’m not at all sure that those gas-fired power stations will be built, let alone in time. Not to mention whether we even want them to be built.”

“That would be a very difficult thing to do anyway: The political party Groen is trying to mount a tough Flemish opposition to nitrogen with slogans such as: ‘Don’t let Flanders suffocate’. Nitrogen emissions are apparently not a problem if they are a consequence of the nuclear phase-out. That’s not how it works,” Bert Wollants concludes.