Belgium's Anders Party Pushes for New Gas Tax Delay as Reserves Hit 27% Capacity

The Belgian political party Anders is demanding a further postponement of the planned increase in gas excise duties, which was moved to 1 August after an earlier delay from April. The party argues the rise would hurt household affordability and calls for a full offset of any gas‑tax hike by lowering electricity bills. Anders also criticises the federal government, particularly Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet, for not securing the strategic gas storage at Loenhout, which is currently only 27 percent full—well below the level required for winter. The party links low reserves and rising Middle‑East geopolitical tensions to the risk of steep winter energy bills for families. Finance Minister Jan Jambon’s earlier “tax shift” plan, intended to lower electricity taxes while raising gas taxes to fund a transition to electric heating, is described by Anders as a disguised tax increase rather than a climate‑friendly measure.