Belgium agrees with Engie to extend talks on nuclear assets takeover

BRUSSELS, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Belgium has agreed to extend negotiations to buy the nuclear utility assets owned by French power utility Engie ENGIE.PA in the country to November 4.

• The Belgian government and Engie announced talks over the sale in April and said at the time that they expected to close a deal by October 1.

• "Given the complexity and scope of the potential transaction, additional time is needed to complete the parties' ongoing analyses and discussions," the Belgian Energy Ministry and Engie said in a joint statement.

• The proposed deal would cover all nuclear activities currently owned and operated by Engie and its Electrabel unit, including the country's seven nuclear reactors, some of which have been closed.

• Plans to decommission some of the closed nuclear reactors were suspended when the talks started.

• Prime Minister Bart De Wever said at the time the idea behind the acquisition was to obtain "a secure, affordable and long-lasting source of energy, with less reliance upon fossil fuels".