“The federal government of Belgium and in light of the huge rise in energy prices due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has decided to take the necessary steps to extend the life of two nuclear reactors by ten years,” Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a statement.

“This extension will strengthen our country’s independence from fossil fuels in a turbulent geopolitical environment,” he added, AFP reported.

The push to 2035 comes as calls are rising that neighboring Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, should also rethink its nuclear energy exit, but ministers in Berlin last week doubled down on their country’s no atom pledge despite the price shock.

Europe is scrambling to find ways to wean itself off its energy dependency on Russia, which provides 40 percent of Europe’s gas needs, mainly to Germany, Italy and several central European countries.

Prices have skyrocketed for Europeans since the invasion by Russia of Ukraine and EU leaders will meet next week to agree on fresh emergency measures to soften the blow for consumers and businesses.

Belgium currently, operates two nuclear power plants with a total of seven reactors.

The promise of a gradual phase-out of nuclear power has been enshrined in Belgian law since 2003 and the decision to again delay the moratorium was fiercely resisted by the Greens party.

In Friday’s plan, which was negotiated during a marathon cabinet session, the government agreed to extend the operating lives of the Doel 4 reactor near the port city of Antwerp and Tihange 3 near Liege until 2035.