New Cracks Found at Belgium's Tihange 2 Reactor

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Belgium's nuclear plants are back in the spotlight after ultrasonic inspections revealed a large number of new cracks at the Tihange 2 reactor.

Roughly 70 micro cracks were found in the high-pressure boiler after the ultrasonic camera was placed in a new location. The news was confirmed by Belgium's Interior Minister Jan Jambon in response to parliamentary questioning, but he claimed that the plant poses no safety risk and will, for the moment, continue to operate. He failed to confirm reports that a further 300 flaws have been discovered at the Doel 3 reactor. Doel 3 and Tihange 2 have capacities of 1,006 megawatts (MW) 1,008 MW, respectively, and are responsible for generating about 14% of Belgium's power. Belgium has seven nuclear reactors split between the Doel and Tihange plants, supplying about half of the country's power.

Owner ENGIE-Electrabel (Brussels, Belgium) carried out the inspections under instructions from the country's Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) and stated that the new cracks pose no danger to operations at the nuclear plants.

In 2015, FANC revealed that more than 3,100 micro cracks had been discovered at Tihange with a further 13,000 found at Doel. Later that year, Industrial Info reported that FANC, after investigations, cleared both reactors for restart. For additional information, see November 24, 2015, article - Belgium Clears Two Reactors for Restart.

Tihange lies just 60 kilometres from the German border and has long been the target of German calls for the plant to be shut, especially considering its recent technical problems.

In March, Belgium's plan to secure longer life for three of its nuclear reactors was granted permission by the European Commission (EC). The government has approved a 10-year extension of the lives of the Doel 1 and Doel 2 nuclear reactors until 2025 in return for significantly higher tax payments from plant owner ENGIE. A similar deal has been agreed with ENGIE and EDF Belgium for the Tihange 1 reactor. For additional information, see December 10, 2015, article - Belgium Extends Lives of Doel Nuclear Reactors and March 22, 2017, article - Europe Allows Belgium's Nuclear Extension Deal.

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