Belgium announced on Friday that its Doel 3 nuclear reactor will disconnect from the grid and cease operations, even as the country fears blackouts this winter. It is one of four reactors at the Doel plant near the port of Antwerp, and is the first nuclear reactor to shut down in Belgium’s plan to exit nuclear power completely. The move moves even as thousands of Belgians took to the streets on Wednesday to protest soaring electricity prices and high costs of living. In a recent Belgian media poll, 64% of Belgians are concerned that they might not be able to pay their energy bills. It also comes as Belgium stainless steel maker Aperam was forced to stop production as the high energy prices became untenable. The decision to shut the reactors was made years ago, well before Europe’s energy crisis took hold. In 2011, it was decided to shut […]