The key facts

  • Belgium will allocate €15 million: €7.5 million to the Social Heating Fund and €7.5 million to the Gas and Electricity Fund
  • The subsidy will rise from €0.20 to €0.50 per litre when the heating oil price reaches €1.775 per litre
  • The measure applies to deliveries from 1 December 2026 to 28 February 2027; Brent is trading around $114 per barrel

Temporary subsidy increase for winter

Belgium will allocate €15 million to increase heating oil subsidies for vulnerable households this coming winter. The temporary measure was announced on Friday by federal energy minister Mathieu Bihl. It covers heating oil deliveries made from 1 December 2026 to 28 February 2027. The existing allowance will rise progressively with prices: from a maximum of €0.20 per litre to €0.50 per litre when the price of heating oil reaches €1.775 per litre or higher.

Context of rising energy prices

The measure is being taken against the backdrop of ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, which is fuelling volatility in the energy market. According to Euronews, on Friday Brent traded at $114 per barrel, compared with $70 before the US and Israeli war with Iran. Bihl stated: 'Heating your home should never become a luxury. When the price of heating oil rises sharply, the most vulnerable households suffer the most.' According to him, the increased support is intended to help families get through the winter and protect their purchasing power.

The role of heating oil in Belgium and the EU

Although heating oil is being phased out, it remains an important source of heating in a number of EU countries, including Cyprus and Ireland. In Belgium, it accounts for about 35% of household space heating — the second source after natural gas. Consumption is particularly high in rural areas and old buildings, above all in Wallonia, where almost half of households rely on heating oil due to lack of access to the gas network. According to Odyssee-Mure, a tool for assessing energy efficiency policies, heating oil accounts for about 14% of energy for household space heating in the EU as a whole, and roughly one in six heating systems runs on oil.

How the support scheme works

At the current Belgian price of €1.62 per litre, a delivery of 1,500 litres costs €2,430, and the existing maximum subsidy of €300 covers only part of the bill. Under the enhanced scheme, the allowance will rise to €487, reducing the household's net cost to €1,943. Support is limited to households meeting the current criteria of the Social Heating Fund and is not available to all heating oil users. Bihl advised applicants to check eligibility and the application procedure at their local public social welfare centres (CPAS in French, OCMW in Dutch).

Allocation of funds and limitations

The government has allocated €7.5 million to the Social Heating Fund to finance the increased allowance and a further €7.5 million to the Gas and Electricity Fund, support under which is also distributed through social welfare centres subject to eligibility criteria. The measures provide short-term relief but are limited by budget and eligibility requirements, so many households facing higher energy bills will remain without additional support. The government has not said whether additional measures will be introduced if prices exceed the levels covered by the scheme.