Belgian nuclear phase-out: Luminus secures subsidies for new gas plant in Seraing

The energy company Luminus has obtained subsidies to build a new gas plant in Seraing, near the Belgian city of Liège. The project was selected through a subsidy auction after a previously selected gas plant in Vilvoorde did not receive a licence. The subsidies for the 870-megawatt gas plant are part of the Belgian capacity remuneration mechanism (CRM) to ensure supply security after the nuclear phase-out.

In 2021, the Belgian federal government set up a capacity remuneration mechanism (CRM) which entailed subsidies for capacity that would replace nuclear power. Initially, the aim was to shut down all seven Belgian nuclear power plants by 2025. Due to rising energy prices and the war in Ukraine, however, the Belgian government decided to keep two power plants open for another ten years. Together, the seven nuclear plants accounted for 52% of Belgium's total electricity production in 2021.

One of the two projects selected in a subsidy auction in October, a gas plant from Engie in Vilvoorde, was not given a licence by the Flemish Minister for the Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA, Flemish nationalists). According to Demir, the plant's emissions would have been too high according to nitrogen regulations. N-VA strongly opposes the nuclear exit initiated by federal Minister of Energy Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen, Flemish green party). In a resit of the earlier auction, Luminus now emerges as Engie's replacement. According to De Tijd, the project in Seraing would be entitled to more than 40 million euros in subsidies per year until 2040.

Citizens' group Tegengas (Against Gas) is outraged at the subsidy allocation. They point out that the construction of a gas plant is also planned in Les Awirs, a village a few kilometres away from Seraing. An appeal before the Belgian Council of State against the environmental permits of both plants is still pending.

(KOR)

Picture shows the gas plant Luminus is already operating in Seraing. The new gas plant will be constructed on the same site © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND