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The Belgian government on Friday denied press reports it wanted to slap an additional charge on French group GDF Suez for extending the life of GDF’s nuclear plants in Belgium.
The energy ministry cited a draft agreement signed in October 2009 between the government and GDF Suez calling for payment of 215 to 245 million euros (396 million dollars) for the period 2010-2015.
“Beyond that date the amount of the payment has not been decided, given that the energy price to be applied at that time is not yet known,” the ministry said, according to the Belga news agency.
The ministry also denied the existence of any plan for “an additional payment” between now and 2015.
The Belgian newspapers L’Eco and De Tijd on Friday reported that Belgian Energy Minister Paul Magnette had informed the European Commission in a letter that GDF Suez could have to provide a new contribution to the Belgian government.
GDF Suez reached an agreement with Belgium in late October on details of an extension of its nuclear power operations in the country.