It was reported that GDF Suez Chief Executive Gerard Mestrallet was not willing to pay EUR250 million in tax to Belgium for 2009 for operating nuclear power stations and to a renewable energy fund.
Last week, Belgium decided to extend the life of its three oldest nuclear power reactors for 10 years until 2025 in exchange for annual payments from producers — EUR215 to EUR245 million per year from 2010 to 2014.
Belgium’s two nuclear sites are operated by Electrabel. SPE, in which EDF plans to buy Centrica’s 51% stake, has drawing rights on some 7% of production.
The power producers were also made to pay EUR250 million for nuclear power in 2008, but are challenging that payment at Belgium’s constitutional court.
Nuclear power accounts for about 55% of total power consumed in Belgium.
