Professor Hermann Matisse (UGent & VUB) is arguing in favor of nuclear power and holding a referendum on it among the population.
In 2003, the purple and green government passed a law to shut down nuclear power plants. There is still uncertainty about its implementation. The result is that our country has been struggling for years with a strategic problem of electricity supply. Residents are told that everyone should get rid of the gas. But at the same time it was announced the construction of new gas-fired power stations! The fact that the gas emits much more carbon dioxide than nuclear power plants, and that there is a geopolitical problem with its supply from Russia, is presented as a diverse fact. But what about the state of nuclear energy in this world?
Nuclear energy is taking over the world
outside Europe
According to the Research Center of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the International Atomic Energy Agency, there are 449 nuclear power plants in operation worldwide and 51 under construction. China and India, two economic superpowers, have announced that they will build dozens of new nuclear power plants. Japan also continues to rely on this form of energy, as does Canada. US President Joe Biden launches grand plans for modern nuclear power plants. The United States now has 95, which accounts for 20 percent of electricity production. NAFTA countries (the United States, Canada, and Mexico) also have ample oil and gas reserves, and are ideally located for solar energy.
The recent dispute between France and Australia over the AUKUS agreement has also been over the application of nuclear power to submarines and cooperation in future research.
Other countries continue to focus on nuclear power, arguing for security of supply, reliability, affordability, and low carbon dioxide emissions.
Europe
Europe is divided over the future use of nuclear energy. Germany’s withdrawal. But if the state also wants to end its lavish use, the energy transition will become prohibitively expensive. In the French capital, people will be very happy, because the German decision makes it impossible for the eternal enemy to become a nuclear power. Germany has already made many mistakes at key moments in history.
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a very ambitious plan for his country’s nuclear future. At least 30 billion euros will be allocated to the construction of new nuclear power plants, large and small. Nuclear power accounts for 70 percent of France’s electricity production. Belgium regularly imports electricity from France, which comes from nuclear power plants. If we shut down our seven nuclear power plants, we would still have to import a lot of French nuclear electricity. Therefore, Paris has its own 30 billion plan that has partially paid off its northern neighbors. Who is the smartest in the class? The French impact on Belgian electricity production and our grid is already enormous. The plans for thorium nuclear power plants and the potential for nuclear fusion also look very good. Macron made the right choice!
Unlike Russia and North America, many oil and gas fields in Europe, such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, are at the end of their life. Only Norway will continue to own these products. Nuclear power still exists in the United Kingdom. The Netherlands is still debating, but there is a majority in the House of Representatives to conserve nuclear power. Even highly developed countries, such as Sweden and Finland, retain nuclear power as a safe source of electricity.
Belgium
Nuclear power supplies about half of Belgium’s electricity. Our country has gained a lot of experience in this field. In view of the industrial activities and employment associated with them, and the related educational component, one must seriously consider the conservation of this source of energy. The climate debate revolves around carbon dioxide, so it is better to choose nuclear power. Nuclear power must also remain important in our electricity supply in order to keep the budget bill within the reach of government, families and businesses. It becomes quite hypocritical to shut down the power plants here, and then import French or British power from the nuclear power plants. If politics doesn’t work, why not ask what voters think of the referendum?
In 2003, the purple and green government passed a law to shut down nuclear power plants. There is still uncertainty about its implementation. The result is that our country has been struggling for years with a strategic problem of electricity supply. Residents are told that everyone should get rid of the gas. But at the same time it was announced the construction of new gas-fired power stations! The fact that the gas emits much more carbon dioxide than nuclear power plants, and that there is a geopolitical problem with its supply from Russia, is presented as a diverse fact. But what about the state of nuclear energy in this world? According to the Research Center of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the International Atomic Energy Agency, there are 449 nuclear power plants in operation worldwide and 51 under construction. China and India, two economic superpowers, have announced that they will build dozens of new nuclear power plants. Japan also continues to rely on this form of energy, as does Canada. US President Joe Biden launches grand plans for modern nuclear power plants. The United States now has 95, which accounts for 20 percent of electricity production. NAFTA countries (the United States, Canada, and Mexico) also have ample oil and gas reserves, and are ideally located for solar energy. The recent dispute between France and Australia over the AUKUS agreement has also been over the application of nuclear power to submarines and cooperation in future research. Other countries continue to focus on nuclear power, championing supply security, reliability, affordability and low carbon dioxide emissions, and Europe is divided over the future use of nuclear power. Germany’s withdrawal. But if the state also wants to end its lavish use, the energy transition will become prohibitively expensive. In the French capital, people will be very happy, because the German decision makes it impossible for the eternal enemy to become a nuclear power. Germany has already made several mistakes at key moments in history, as French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a very ambitious plan for his country’s nuclear future. At least 30 billion euros will be allocated to the construction of new nuclear power plants, large and small. Nuclear power accounts for 70 percent of France’s electricity production. Belgium regularly imports electricity from France, which comes from nuclear power plants. If we shut down our seven nuclear power plants, we would still have to import a lot of French nuclear electricity. Therefore, Paris has its own 30 billion plan that has partially paid off its northern neighbors. Who is the smartest in the class? The French impact on Belgian electricity production and our grid is already enormous. The plans for thorium nuclear power plants and the potential for nuclear fusion also look very good. Macron made the right choice, unlike Russia and North America, many oil and gas fields in Europe, such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, are at the end of their lives. Only Norway will continue to own these products. Nuclear power still exists in the United Kingdom. The Netherlands is still debating, but there is a majority in the House of Representatives to conserve nuclear power. Even highly developed countries, such as Sweden and Finland, maintain nuclear power as a safe source of electricity. In Belgium, nuclear power provides about half of the electricity. Our country has acquired a great deal of knowledge in this field. In view of the industrial activities and employment associated with them, and the related educational component, one must seriously consider the conservation of this source of energy. The climate debate revolves around carbon dioxide, so it is better to choose nuclear power. Nuclear power must also remain important in our electricity supply in order to keep the budget bill within the reach of government, families and businesses. It becomes quite hypocritical to shut down the power plants here, and then import French or British power from the nuclear power plants. If politics doesn’t work, why not ask what voters think of the referendum?
