Belgium's parliament decided on Thursday to abandon the two-decade-old decision to phase out nuclear power in the country.
102 voted in favor of the conservative government's proposal to revive the country's nuclear industry, 8 voted against, and 31 abstained.
The federal parliament has just turned the page after two decades of blockages and hesitation to pave the way for a realistic and resilient energy model, said Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet.
The decision to phase out nuclear power was made in 2003, and the plan was then to have all of the country's nuclear reactors out of operation this year.
Belgium currently has two nuclear power plants in operation, and both are operated by the French energy company Engie. Nuclear power accounts for 40% of the country's total electricity production.
