On 14 July 2022, the Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage, received a letter from the Belgian Minister of Energy in relation to the proposed 10-year extension to the operational life of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 nuclear power plants, located near the Port of Antwerp and the village of Tihange respectively.

This letter invited Ireland to participate in a transboundary EIA consultation in relation to the proposed project and advised that relevant environmental documentation would be available early in 2023.

The documentation necessary to facilitate transboundary EIA consultation was received on 20 March 2023 from Belgian authorities.

In accordance with the provisions of the 1991 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context ("the Espoo Convention"), transboundary States are required to engage in transboundary public consultation in respect of projects likely to have significant effects on the environment of neighboring States as part of the environmental impact assessment of a proposed development.

For this purpose, the transboundary State in whose territory the project is intended to be carried out is required to send to the affected State, no later than when informing its own public, a description of the project and any available information on its possible transboundary impact.

The Minister has decided that Dublin City Council will be the host Local Authority.

Link to their consultation portal - https://consultation.dublincity.ie/planning/belgium-doel-4-and-tihange-3/