Gov’t has already chosen site as preferred location for two new nuclear units.
The Dutch government has confirmed plans to extend the lifespan of its only commercial nuclear power station beyond 2033 and to invest €20m ($23m) in the development of small modular reactors (SMRs).
The Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth said in a statement that the cabinet had submitted an amendment to the Nuclear Energy Act to the House of Representatives that would allow for the plant in Borssele, in the south of the Netherlands, to remain operational for longer than originally planned.
It said this was part of a drive to make nuclear power a larger part of the power supply in the country.
The ministry also said the government is allocating €20m to stimulate development of SMRs in the Netherlands.
“With these steps, the Netherlands is firmly committed to a reliable, CO2-free energy supply, in addition to wind and solar energy,” the ministry said.
In a separate statement the government said if the amendment is adopted, Borssele's operator EPZ can apply to the regulator ANVS to keep the nuclear power plant operating beyond 2033. “This will allow the Netherlands to continue consuming CO2-free energy for a longer period,” it said.
The government said the extension aligns with its policy of not relying solely on green energy sources such as offshore wind or solar panels, but also fully committing to “CO2-free and reliable nuclear energy”. It said: “This will ensure our country can keep running, even when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn’t blow.”
It also said it would create a new state-owned company called the Nuclear Energy Organisation of the Netherlands (NEO NL) that would sign contracts for new plants and will also operate them.
Borselle, a single 482-MW pressurised water reactor unit, began commercial operation in 1973. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, in 2024 it provided a 2.8% share of the country’s electricity production.,
In December 2022 the Dutch government chose the Borssele site as its preferred location for the proposed construction of two new nuclear units.
The government said the units should be deployed by 2035, each have a capacity of between 1,000 MW and 1,650 MW, and use Generation III+ reactor technology.
