Electricity prices for industrial consumers remain significantly higher in our country than in neighboring countries

Electricity prices for industrial consumers remain significantly higher in Belgium than in neighboring countries. Moreover, companies in our country are unprotected against any new price increases in Europe, unlike their German and French competitors. This was evident on Wednesday from a study by Deloitte commissioned by Febeliec, the sector organization for industrial major energy consumers.

Also in 2024, Belgian companies with a base load (which consume electricity continuously) will continue to pay 10 to 21 percent more for their purchased electricity than the average of the Central-Western European countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany), according to Febeliec. Belgian companies still pay by far the highest taxes on their purchases, mainly due to levies from the regions.

“Belgian companies not only have a significant competitive disadvantage compared to their competitors in neighboring countries, but also have to continue to compete with substantially lower energy costs in large parts of the rest of the world,” Febeliec criticizes. “This structural handicap continues to seriously challenge industrial activity and its development in Europe and in Belgium, costing jobs, added value and prosperity.”

Febeliec therefore once again calls on the competent authorities to urgently take the necessary measures to restore the competitiveness of electricity prices for Belgian industry.