N-VA delegation to Tihange nuclear power station to protest closure

The Tihange 2 nuclear power station is closing its doors today. “The second victim of the De Croo government falls,” sighs MP and energy expert Bert Wollants. “That is while it is more important than ever today that we keep as many nuclear power stations open as long as possible to ensure our future energy supply.” Together with chairman Bart De Wever and a delegation from the N-VA, he is showing his support for the Stand up for Nuclear demonstration. “It is important that both Doel 3 and Tihange 2 are kept operational just in case, even after closure.”

“Writing off two perfectly usable reactors in these times of crisis is therefore madness”, adds Wollants. “In fact, the negotiations with Engie don’t even mention the other nuclear power stations. That is while extending the two most recent reactors by only ten years is not enough to ensure a warm winter in 2026. But as long as the De Croo government remains shackled to the dogmatic thinking of the Ecolo-Green parties, I see things looking very bleak.” He is referring to the statements made by Ecolo party co-chairman Jean-Marc Nollet, who quite clearly shut the door on a 20-year extension and additional SMR stations.

Bart De Wever: “Incomprehensible mismanagement”

N-VA party chairman Bart De Wever is also there to express his dissatisfaction with the federal energy policy. “This is the second permanent closure of a nuclear power station in five months. While we should fully embrace nuclear energy in geostrategic terms, the federal government is demolishing our nuclear energy park and continues to ban the nuclear energy of the future. Peaceful protest against this incomprehensible mismanagement has my full support.”

71% for nuclear energy

The annual Polaris/AQrate survey showed yet again that the public has “a critical, nuanced, but predominantly positive view of nuclear energy”. In fact, 71% prefer electricity from a mix of sources with nuclear energy and renewable energy. “So our citizens know very well what they want,” says Wollants, “and the N-VA will continue to strive for that. But as long as Prime Minister De Croo considers internal peace within his government as more important than the future of our energy supply, I fear our appeal will fall on deaf ears.”