Belgium's government on Thursday said it would shut all of the country's nuclear power plants over the next three years.

The last existing nuclear power plants are to close in 2025, local media said, in accordance with a 2003 law.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday morning, Prime Minister de Croo said the first objective of the agreement would be to ensure security of energy supply.

"Our people and our companies are entitled to that," he said, adding that the second objective was "to fully opt for innovation."

"In concrete terms, this means that we will invest in research into newer technologies," de Croo said, explaining that this included the smaller reactors.

Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten, from the Greens, said research would focus on sustainable, flexible and carbon-neutral energy sources.

It'll be real tragedy for normal people, as elites intent to rise energy prices from 5 to 10 fold and turn their life into misery.