Borssele Nuclear Plant Definitely Staying Open Until 2033

THE HAGUE, 11/01/06 - Environment State Secretary Pieter van Geel yesterday sent the Lower House the package of agreements, measures and conditions on the basis of which the nuclear plant in Borssele can definitely remain open until 2033. Originally, the plant was due to close in 2013, but the cabinet decided on an extension of its life shortly before Christmas.

Part of the agreement is that Borssele "must be able to compare itself with the best" and to continue to belong to the safest 25 percent of nuclear plants in the Western world. Comparative research will be carried out on this every five years. The State, the plan's operator EPZ and shareholders Delta and Essent will form a commission for this.

The parties will each invest 250 million euros in a cleaner environment and energy. Delta and Essent will place a maximum of 50 million in an 'innovation fund' to finance the development of clean energy by other parties. The fixed investments will target a reduction in emissions of the greenhouse gas CO2, and development of new energy sources such as bio-fuels.

If the cabinet had closed the plant off its own bat in 2013, the State could have faced a damages claim of "some hundreds of millions up to over 1 billion euros" because EPZ could refer to an unrestricted licence, reported Van Geel. With the covenant now concluded, this is no longer the case. End-2033 is now the closure date, "unless, due to safety considerations," closure becomes necessary earlier.