Furthermore, during a hearing in the House this Tuesday, the ecologist urged Vivaldi to make the various appointments in the structures that have been created, as part of the extension of Doel 4 and Tihange 3.
Nuclear extension: the European Commission is investigating the advantages granted by the Belgian State to Engie
Be-Nuc and Ivy
As a reminder, it is Be-Nuc, a company owned 50-50 by the Belgian State and Engie, which will be the owner of Doel 4 and Tihange 3, once they have been extended. However, it is expected that it will be the Belgian State which appoints the financial director of Be-Nuc.
In addition, Vivaldi has created Hedera, a structure intended to accommodate the 15 billion euros that Engie will pay to get rid of its nuclear waste. However, the government must appoint three representatives at Hedera: the president, the technical director and the financial director. These three functions are crucial. Indeed, the 15 billion euros paid by Engie should, ultimately, generate more than 40 billion euros to manage nuclear waste. It is therefore better to invest this money well… The annual remuneration of the president of Hedera has been set at 265,000 euros.
A name is problematic
The De Croo government, in current affairs, has not managed to agree on these four appointments. Tinne Van der Straeten claims to have proposed five names per position, following the selection process led by headhunter Korn Ferry. According to our information, it is the very political profile of Nele Roobrouck, member of Prime Minister Alexander De Croo’s cabinet, which arouses the most distrust. The latter was proposed as president of Hedera, the structure which will manage the 15 billion euros paid by Engie.
Other names, from Tinne Van der Straeten’s office, seem to pose fewer problems for those familiar with the sector.
Energy distribution will cost more in Wallonia
Whatever happens, Tinne Van der Straeten believes that we must move forward as quickly as possible. According to her, the agreement with Engie is conditional on these appointments. In addition, if Europe gives the green light to the deal, Engie will have to pay a first tranche of 11.5 billion euros to Hedera. What if the structure does not yet have management and a bank account?
Tinne Van der Straeten also warned of the consequences of the non-appointment of the financial director of Be-Nuc, the joint venture owning Doel 4 and Tihange 3. According to the ecologist, there is a risk that Engie decides on its own, within Be-Nuc, if the Belgian State is not represented.
The question of these appointments should come back to the table of the De Croo government this Friday. Can an agreement be reached? It comes to us that some parties in Arizona are against the creation of Hedera and would prefer that Ondraf manage the money from nuclear waste. But certain parties in Arizona are in Vivaldi. An agreement may therefore not be reached this Friday.
