climate and called for extension of the low-carbon nuclear power plants lifetime. In 2021 media uncovered a potential conflict of interest, pointing out that Tinne Van der Straeten worked for law firm Blixt between 2012-2019, which represented interests of fossil gas companies including Gazprom. Permits for Engie's gas-powered plant in Vilvoorde were blocked by provincial and Flemish authorities, under N-VA politicians who are opposed to a nuclear phaseout. By December 2021, this raised doubts within the Belgian Government whether the phaseout is reliably achievable. The MR -with Vice Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes- called for plan B. This demand was met with a new study by regular FANC on the whether a nuclear continuation is technically possible, while organising a new CRM auction. The CRM was changed to be able to award subsidies to a different project in case of permit issues. Marghem (MR) refused to vote in favour as member of parliament. As Open Vld with Prime Minister De Croo joined MR's doubts, the January 2022 report by FANC showed a nuclear continuation is possible if started immediately. Employers' organisations joined calls to continue operating nuclear power plants. In February 2022, due to the Russian invasion on Ukraine, a nuclear phaseout with new gas power plants was untenable and Minister Van der Straeten was forced to switch to the fallback plan. In March 2022, Belgium officially decided to postpone closing the two reactors Doel 4 and Tihange 3 by 10 additional years. The government subsequently had to negotiate with Engie to enable the two reactors to continue operations. By January 2023, an agreement was made, although it is uncertain it will be accomplished by 2026. Engie agreed to invest in the nuclear power plants while the government would cap the costs for discontinuation of the other plants and for nuclear waste. Hydrogen damage in Doel 3 and Tihange 2 Mid August 2012 it was revealed that planned inspections, carried out in June, using a new type of ultrasound technique had detected thousands of quasi-laminar flaws in the forged rings of Doel 3's reactor vessel. The Doel 3 and Tihange 2 reactors vessels were both built in the early 1980s by RDM. Subsequently Tihange 2 was also inspected with this new technique at the next planned inspection. Tihange 2 reactor vessel was found to be affected in a similar fashion. During further inspections and reports from expert panels the reactors remained