Fracture danger in Belgian and USA nuclear plants

“Emergency situation” as fractures suspected at nuclear reactor http://enenews.com/official-emergency-situation-as-fractures-suspected-at-reactor-10-u-s-nuclear-plants-may-use-same-component— Ten U.S. plants may use same component — “Likely to reignite a debate over the risks of nuclear energy” -Financial Times
August 10th, 2012 By ENENews
Follow-up to: FOX: Nuclear reactor halted on “suspicion of cracks”; “We have found anomalies,” says Belgium official — AFP: Possible cracks in reactor vessel?

Title: Belgium shuts down nuclear power plant

Source: Financial Times
Author: James Fontanella-Khan
Date: August 9, 2012 5:47 pm
Emphasis Added

Belgium has temporarily shut down one of its seven nuclear power plants after the country’s atomic energy regulator discovered “several anomalies”, including possible cracks, in the tank containing the reactor’s core. […] suspected fractures at the Doel 3 reactor […]

Several other nuclear sites around the world – including the US, Germany and Spain – use tanks produced by the same company, according a nuclear energy expert who asked not to be named.

[…]

“We are talking with all regulators as we would in any emergency situation … it is essential to co-ordinate efforts,” Ms [Karina De Beule, AFCN spokesperson] said. “At present we can guarantee that there are no risks to workers, citizens and the environment.”

[…]

The incident at Doel 3 is likely to reignite a debate over the risks of nuclear energy nearly 18 months after a 9 magnitude earthquake devastated the north-east of Japan and triggered a severe crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

[…]

Title: EU calls for more nuclear tests after Belgian fear
Source: AFP
Date: August 10, 2012
Emphasis Added

The discovery of possible cracks in a Belgian nuclear reactor should trigger urgent testing around the EU, but such decisions are for national governments to take, a European Commission spokeswoman said on Thursday.

“National authorities will conduct tests, that seems obvious,” said Marlene Holzner, spokeswoman for EU energy commissioner Guenther Oettinger.

[…]

The agency is also mulling the permanent closure “in the worst case” of a second reactor in the country’s south near Liege, also produced by now-defunct Dutch firm Rotterdam Drydocks.

As well as the two Belgian reactors, French daily Le Monde said another 10 went to the United States, two each to Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland, plus another one each in Argentina and Sweden.