In a letter to Prime Minister Alexander de Croo, the “Horizon 238” think tank (named in reference to uranium-238) states that so-called renewable energy sources on their own can never provide power to cover the needs of Belgium. The public debate on nuclear technology should be freed from dogmatism and return to the facts which speak for the atom, the letter says.
The authors of the letter point to the high expertise which Belgium has developed in 60 years’ use of nuclear technology, and furthermore emphasize the pioneering role of Belgian nuclear physicists in the development of technology to recycle used nuclear fuels and prepare them for new use again: “Our country has the opportunity to use this expertise to prepare its future more serenely. Today, the MYRRHA project developed at the Belgian nuclear research center, is a research pioneer for recycling nuclear waste. In the near future, Belgian nuclear engineering could take the forefront of the hydrogen economy and of the deep decarbonization of industrial sectors that are difficult to electrify, leveraging new, more versatile and more sustainable nuclear technologies.”
Horizon 238 started out with a membership of engineers and specialists employed at Belgian nuclear sector firms; however, it has since been joined by predominantly young Belgians of all sectors who have a genuine interest in nuclear power development. “At the beginning, we were all young engineers. This may be the reason why our publications are sometimes considered too technical,” Horizon 238 states on its website. “Over time, we were joined by young people from more diverse backgrounds. We intend to continue this momentum and to further diversify our team.”
