With Doel and Tihange GDF Suez has Belgium 4

The Belgium is working towards a longer of ten years of the life of his three oldest nuclear reactors operated by GDF Suez. Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy should announce it as early as this week, or in any case prior to his speech of general policy for the 13 octobre. For after the final report presented last week to the Minister of energy, Paul Magnette, by Gemix, the Group of experts to determine the "mix" energy ideal of the Belgium, the review of the situation, in ten years, might even pave the way for an additional extension. More prudent, Paul Magnette resumed his first extension of ten years.

Discussions should continue for a position on the four most recent: (Doel 3, Doel 4, Tihange 2 and Tihange 3), plants for which the Gemix advocates a twenty year extension, that does not support Paul Magnette. The issue could be quickly resolved, Herman van Rompuy has always said that he wanted to take a decision on the Belgian nuclear by the end of the year.

In the meantime, the position taken by the Minister of the Belgian energy, of course, is for GDF Suez, a good news. With Doel and Tihange, GDF Suez has Belgium 4.060 megawatts (MW) of nuclear capabilities on a total of 6,000 MW in the world. While a lengthening of the life of plants is now consensus for all political parties, it is difficult to see how the Government could take the opposite of the position of the Minister of energy, although his output was fairly annoyed. So he failed to notify the Minister of finance, Didier Reynders, who, in full preparation of the new budget, counting on this extension to monetize an increase in the taxes levied on GDF Suez

In early September, the CEO of the French group had estimated at EUR 800 million investments to the extension of the older reactor (Doel 1, Doel 2, Tihange 1). Once this sum has been invested, the three reactors should EUR 1 billion net to the French group between 2015 and 2025. The extension of the nuclear plants allow also reporter exits of cash necessary to their immediate replacement by power plants gas. The provisioned for decommissioning funds may also be reused during the extension period.

Aware of these effects of boon, the Belgian Government is seeking important counterparties to the extension of power plants. The Minister of energy, Paul Magnette, it is imperative to take "a significant part of the nuclear margin in favour of the budget of the State, through a structural mechanism."

The idea of a single buyer

Several tracks are under study. GDF Suez would be ready to make commitments for investment and jobs in renewable energy. An approach to the Netherlands during the extension of the nuclear power plant in Borssele. The idea of a tax of EUR 500 million per year, put forward a time by the Belgian authorities, on the other hand leap GDF Suez. According to the Belgian press, it would be more question now to a contribution of 200 to 300 million euros. GDF Suez is also reserved about the idea of a single buyer acquiring nuclear power at a predefined price before reselling it to the suppliers of the country. A concept that could pose problems in Brussels, under European competition law.