The decision, expected to be approved by the senate in the next few weeks, will lead to the closure of seven nuclear power plants which currently provide 60 percent of Belgium's electricity.

Belgium is one of five EU states planning to phase out nuclear energy. The others are Germany, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands. Eight EU states in all have nuclear plants.

The environmental group Greenpeace immediately welcomed the Belgian decision as a "strong political signal."

"By this choice, Belgium joins the vast majority of European countries that have decided to turn their backs on nuclear energy," it said.

"Only France, Finland and Britain remain obstinately on this course," it added in a statement.

A spokesman for Belgium's junior energy minister Olivier Deleuze said the senate would approve the measure "unless there is a major political accident."

Deleuze said the phasing-out of the country's nuclear power industry would not drive up bills for consumers due to the imminent liberalization of the European energy market.

The draft law aims to close power plants when they are 40 years old, implying the first closure from February 2015 and the last in 2025, according to a ministry statement.

The agreement to phase out nuclear power in Belgium was part of the July 1999 accord which brought the current rainbow coalition of Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt to power.

The draft law however specifies that Belgium can take "appropriate measures" if its power supplies are in any way threatened between now and 2025, but "without calling into question the principle of abandoning nuclear power," Deleuze said.

Nuclear energy production would only be maintained by the government in case of "force majeur." Neither electricity suppliers, users, nor distributors can seek an extension of nuclear supplies.

The minister added that the decision to close the power plants would have only a marginal effect on Belgium's commitments under the Kyoto Protocol against global warming, since they produce only 15 percent of "greenhouse gases."

The Belgian government now plans to introduce fiscal incentives over the next few years to promote the development of alternative energy sources.

Some measures have already been taken at a regional level, with ecologically sound electricity producers allowed to charge rates high enough to make a profit, officials said.

Last month the European Commission called for a shake-up of EU nuclear rules, as the club prepares to take in 10 mostly ex-communist states, many of which have ageing Soviet-era nuclear facilities.

According to EU calculations, nuclear power is set to drop from providing 15 percent of the bloc's energy needs currently to six percent in 2030.

"We have to act rapidly and firmly to respond to public concerns about nuclear safety after enlargement," said commissioner Loyola de Palacio, whose portfolio includes energy.

Complete liberalization of the EU energy market is planned by July 2007, allowing domestic consumers as well as companies to choose their own power providers.

SPACE.WIRE