Belgian Energy and Climate Minister Paul Magnette announced that the governement would not begin phasing out its nuclear program in 2015, as set out in a 2003 law.

"The government has decided to delay by 10 years the first stage of phasing out nuclear power," he said in a statement released late on Monday.

Three of the country's seven reactors were to due to cease operations six years from now, but a report by the "group of experts on the energy mix" (GEMIX) said to close them on schedule would create an energy supply shortfall.

Some 55 percent of Belgium's power is nuclear generated and the country is not yet in a position to fill the gap with renewables.

Speaking about the new plans earlier this month, Magnette said they would "guarantee security of supply, limit the production of carbon dioxide and allow us to maintain prices that protect consumer purchaising power."

At a price

Is this the future of energy supply?

In his statement, Magnette said the deal meant Electrabel -- the Belgian arm of French utiltiy GDF Suez -- which is the main nuclear producer in the country, would pay the government between 215 and 245 million euros annually until 2014.

The exact sum, he said, would depend on production costs and market prices.

The energy ministry said that Electrabel would also be expected to invest 500 million Euros in renewables and to make a commitment to generate 10,000 new jobs before 2015.

GDF Suez described the decision as constructive and said it was willing to finanalize negotiations as soon as possible.

Germany's nuclear woes

The nuclear debate has featured prominently in talks between Germany's new coalition partners. Both Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) have said they would like to extend the operational lives of Germany's nuclear power stations.

As it stands, eight of the country's 17 reactors are due to be closed down by 2018, with a full phase-out scheduled for 2020.

Nuclear power? No thank you, is the view taken by many Germans

But as with Belgium, there are concerns that the timetable is too tight. Both the CDU and the FDP say it doesn't make sense to stick to the plans unless there are alternative energy sources in place to make up for the deficit.

Such arguments, however, do little to assuage public fears over the safety of Germany's nuclear business. Earlier this year, an older plant in northern Germany sparked anger when it broke down just days after re-opening following a two-year closure.

The nation's resistance towards nuclear fuel was further compounded a few weeks later, when it came to light that Helmut Kohl's administration had held back information advising against the use of Gorleben as a permanent storage site for nuclear waste.

tkw/reuters/AFP

Editor: Trinity Hartman

