Brussels welcomes first-ever nuclear energy meeting with global leaders

By Nur Asena Erturk

Belgium's capital on Thursday welcomed its first-ever nuclear energy summit with the attendance of leaders from around the world.

“This shows that there is this idea that heads of state and government must meet, this is a turning point,” Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told reporters at the doorstep of the summit in Brussels.

“Leaders consider the nuclear question as indispensable,” he added, citing how half of the clean energy in Europe is generated from nuclear power.

Asked about the situation in war-torn Ukraine and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, whose safety has been questioned amid reported understaffing during the conflict, Grossi said international oversight must be reinforced, including the IAEA, to lead inspections to avoid risks.

- Belgium’s ‘balanced’ energy strategy

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said that his country has a balanced strategy towards renewable sources and nuclear power.

The nuclear summit is not a summit “against” renewables, he said.

“We will need both of them, and Belgium is in a unique position to realize both … If we want to decarbonize, if we want to progress toward Net Zero by 2050, we will need all of those technologies, both renewable and nuclear,” he explained.

Belgium last month canceled plans to shut down its two nuclear plants in 2025, instead extending their lives for 10 more years.

- ‘Strong comeback’ for nuclear power

Fatih Birol, the Turkish economist who heads the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), noted that new countries want to become nuclear powers too.

There are three reasons for this, he said: the fight against climate change, electricity security amid Russia's war on Ukraine, and electricity production without any interruption no price volatility.

“So these three things together make (for) a strong comeback for nuclear power,” Birol said, predicting that “nuclear will play a very important role for the clean electricity generation.”

“I would however, say that the major part of the future clean electricity will come from renewables, mainly solar, wind, hydro-power,” he added.

“But nuclear has also a role to play to complement renewable electricity, as nuclear provides electricity without any interruption.”

The two-day nuclear summit will mainly focus on the role of nuclear energy in addressing global challenges to reduce the use of fossil fuels, enhance energy security, and boost economic development.