Electrabel Closes Two Nuclear Reactors in Belgium for Maintenance

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources India (Delhi, India)--Belgium's Public Utility Electrabel SA (Brussels), a subsidiary of GDF Suez SA (EPA:GSZ) (Paris), has shutdown two nuclear reactors with an aggregate capacity of 2,014 megawatt (MW) for maintenance and structural repair work. The third 1,006-megawatt (MW) reactor at Doel Nuclear power station and the second 1,008-MW reactor at Tihange nuclear power station will remain shut-down for eight weeks.

Located at the bank of Scheldt River, in East Flanders region of Northern Belgium, Doel power station has four reactors with a total capacity of 2,925 MW, while Tihange nuclear power station, located in the Liege region of Eastern Belgium has three reactors of total 3,163 MW.

As per Centre d'Etude Nucléaire (SCK-CEN) (Mol Belgium), the two nuclear reactor have failed to meet the country's nuclear safety and radiation protection standards in the sample inspection. In order to comply with the country's nuclear energy norms, Electrabel has decided to shutdown the two units.

During this maintenance schedule, Belgium's nuclear regulator, Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) and Electrabel jointly examine the results of mechanical resistance of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) which is expected to continue till June 2014.

The two units were shutdown for nearly a year after small cracks in the structural design were detected in the summer of 2012. As per FANC, the two reactors were connected to the grid on June 2013 in order to evaluate the durability of tanks under long term operation activity.

Belgium has seven nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of nearly 6 gigawatt (GW), representing more than 50% of the country's total power production. Belgium is planning to phase out its complete nuclear fleet by 2025.

Electrabel, founded in 1905, is a Belgium-based energy corporation. Electrabel is the largest electricity producer in the Netherlands and Belgium and the second largest natural gas supplier in Belgium.

View Plant Profile - 1072293 1072296
View Outage Report - 237661 237664

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.