Released August 13, 2012 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) -- Belgian power company, Electrabel SA (Brussels, Belgium), has been forced to close the 1,006-megawatt (MW) Doel 3 nuclear reactor after safety checks revealed possible cracks in the reactor vessel.
Electrabel, which is owned by GDF Suez SA (EPA:GSZ) (Paris, France), claimed that the findings by the country's nuclear watchdog, Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC), during a recent safety inspection poses no threat to the public. However, it is expected that the reactor will remain offline for the rest of the month while the problem is explored. Doel 3, located 25 kilometres north of Antwerp, supplies around one sixth of the country's electricity. Without Doel 3, Belgium is facing a power shortage unless the plant can be brought back online before winter.
"A new analysis of the reactor using a new type of ultrasonic probes was performed during the scheduled overhaul of the Doel 3 nuclear power station," FANC explained. "Although the results of these analyses are not yet complete at this stage, it now appears that the ultrasonic transducers on the vessel have detected what could be possible cracks."
It added: "The FANC will only be provide a licence for further operation if convincing arguments are provided. It is our job to ensure safe operation".
The vessel is one of many created by Rotterdam Drydocks, a Dutch company that went out of business in the 1980s. According to FANC, it believes that 21 other reactors at plants around Europe and the U.S. use the same kind of vessel. The Nuclear Energy Agency has announced that 11 reactors in Europe will have to undergo similar ultrasonic testing as will around 10 reactors in the United States.
Electrabel commented: "Inspections of the reactor vessel conducted during the 10-yearly overhaul of Doel 3 nuclear power station yielded findings that require further analysis by internal and external experts. The necessary actions are currently being implemented. The mentioned analyses are supervised by the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (AFCN/FANC). The reactor will not be restarted until all results are in".
Doel 3 is due for decommissioning in 2022, assuming the issues regarding the vessel are solved, but it could be closed for good if cracks are found. According to the regulator, repairing or replacing a damaged vessel would be almost impossible.
"Any repair of the reactor vessel is practically impossible," FANC explained. "Also, replacing the reactor vessel is extremely difficult (high radiation, etc. ..) and has never taken place worldwide in nuclear power."
Belgium relies on nuclear power for approximately 50% of its electricity but has stated that it wants to be nuclear-free by 2025, assuming alternative sources of electricity are in place.
View Plant Details - 1072296
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, and eight offices outside of North America, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.
Electrabel, which is owned by GDF Suez SA (EPA:GSZ) (Paris, France), claimed that the findings by the country's nuclear watchdog, Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC), during a recent safety inspection poses no threat to the public. However, it is expected that the reactor will remain offline for the rest of the month while the problem is explored. Doel 3, located 25 kilometres north of Antwerp, supplies around one sixth of the country's electricity. Without Doel 3, Belgium is facing a power shortage unless the plant can be brought back online before winter.
"A new analysis of the reactor using a new type of ultrasonic probes was performed during the scheduled overhaul of the Doel 3 nuclear power station," FANC explained. "Although the results of these analyses are not yet complete at this stage, it now appears that the ultrasonic transducers on the vessel have detected what could be possible cracks."
It added: "The FANC will only be provide a licence for further operation if convincing arguments are provided. It is our job to ensure safe operation".
The vessel is one of many created by Rotterdam Drydocks, a Dutch company that went out of business in the 1980s. According to FANC, it believes that 21 other reactors at plants around Europe and the U.S. use the same kind of vessel. The Nuclear Energy Agency has announced that 11 reactors in Europe will have to undergo similar ultrasonic testing as will around 10 reactors in the United States.
Electrabel commented: "Inspections of the reactor vessel conducted during the 10-yearly overhaul of Doel 3 nuclear power station yielded findings that require further analysis by internal and external experts. The necessary actions are currently being implemented. The mentioned analyses are supervised by the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (AFCN/FANC). The reactor will not be restarted until all results are in".
Doel 3 is due for decommissioning in 2022, assuming the issues regarding the vessel are solved, but it could be closed for good if cracks are found. According to the regulator, repairing or replacing a damaged vessel would be almost impossible.
"Any repair of the reactor vessel is practically impossible," FANC explained. "Also, replacing the reactor vessel is extremely difficult (high radiation, etc. ..) and has never taken place worldwide in nuclear power."
Belgium relies on nuclear power for approximately 50% of its electricity but has stated that it wants to be nuclear-free by 2025, assuming alternative sources of electricity are in place.
View Plant Details - 1072296
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, and eight offices outside of North America, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.
