Doel Nuclear Power Station
The Doel nuclear power plant is located in the port of Antwerp, on the left bank of the river Scheldt. The site houses 4 reactors of the PWR type. These reactors with pressurized water are among the safest in the world. The 2 reactors in production have a total capacity of 1471 MW. Doel 3, with a capacity of 1006 MW, was taken out of service on September 23, 2022; Doel 1, with a capacity of 445 MW on February 14, 2025. The Doel plant accounted for around a quarter of Belgium's total electricity production in 2022.
The power station of Doel: historical
In the late 1960s Belgium chose nuclear power to produce part of its electricity. The ever-increasing demand for energy could no longer be met by fossil fuels alone. Therefore the government decided to build 4 nuclear reactors in Doel and 3 in Tihange.
In 1968, Doel 1 and 2 were ordered. The surroundings of Doel were ideal because of the cooling water which could be extracted from the nearby Scheldt. The works started by creating 80 hectares of reclaimed polder area. The dykes were increased in height to 11 meters above sea level. Construction started in 1969 and in 1970 the first staff were recruited. The Doel 1 reactor was commissioned in early 1975 and later that year Doel 2 also followed. Doel 3 went online in 1982 and in mid 1985 Doel 4 was fully operational.
Doel 1 and 2 are fully owned by Electrabel. Doel 3 and 4 are largely owned by Electrabel (89.8%) and partly by EDF. Electrabel ensures the operation of the power stations to the highest levels of safety.
On September 23, 2022 Doel 3 was shut down in accordance with the law on nuclear exit.
On December 13, 2023 ENGIE and the Belgian government signed the final agreement on the LTO for 10 years of the Tihange 3 and Doel 4 nuclear power plants and on all obligations related to nuclear waste.
On February 14, 2025 Doel 1 was shut down in accordance with the law on nuclear exit.
Key figures
PWR (pressurized water reactor) type nuclear reactors, 2 of which are in operation and 2 are being decommissioned
total capacity
of the Belgian energy consumption in 2021
Electrabel employees and thousands of external employees per year
hectares of land
regulated controls and 50 audits per year
Features
| Doel 1 | Doel 2 | Doel 3 | Doel 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity (MW) | In decommissioning | 445 | In decommissioning | 1026 |
| In service since | 15/02/1975 | 01/12/1975 | 01/10/1982 | 01/07/1985 |
| Planned closure date | 15/02/2025 | 01/12/2025 | 01/10/2022* | 01/11/2035 |
| Share of ENGIE Electrabel (%) | 100 | 100 | 89,81 | 89,81 |
| Employment | More then 1000 Electrabel employees and up to thousands of external employees each year | |||
* Date of operational shutdown 23/09/2022
Final shutdown of Doel 3
In accordance with the law on the nuclear phase out, unit 3 of the Doel nuclear power plant was definitively disconnected from the electricity grid on Friday September 23, 2022, after 40 years of operation. Doel 3 is therefore the first Belgian nuclear power plant to definitively stop producing electricity.
Read more: Final shutdown Doel 3
Final shutdown of Doel 1
In accordance with the law on the nuclear phase out, unit 1 of the Doel nuclear power plant was definitively disconnected from the electricity grid on Friday February 14, 2025, after 50 years of operation. Doel 1 is the third Belgian nuclear power plant to definitively stop producing electricity.
Read more: Final shutdown Doel 1
News about Doel
The nuclear power plants of Doel and Tihange attach great importance to the relationship with their surroundings. They have established consultation bodies to communicate with local representatives. Everyone who lives near the nuclear power plants, receives the community magazine Doelbewust / Tihange Contact.
Environmental Declaration Doel
Sounding board council
Visit
