nuclear-news

Another Belgian nuclear reactor with cracks?

Second Belgian reactor has indications of cracks “…..(Reuters)  13 Sept 12, – A second nuclear reactor in Belgium has indications of cracks in its core tank, the nuclear regulator said on Thursday, putting further strain on the country’s energy supply as it heads into
winter.

Preliminary results of tests being carried out at Tihange 2, a reactor
operated by GDF Suez unit Electrabel, showed that there were
indications of cracks on the core tank, Belgium’s nuclear regulator
FANC said in a statement.

The 1,008 megawatt reactor in the south of the country was to reopen
from a scheduled shutdown in October, but that will now be delayed
while experts analyse the results……
Last month, Belgium halted the 1,006 megawatt Doel 3 reactor near
Antwerp after the discovery of suspected cracks in the core tank and
the site will not reopen this year.

“We have found the same indications as we found at the Doel 3 power
plant, and now we will analyse and constitute a file to hand over to
the FANC,” said a spokeswoman for Electrabel.

It means that two out of Belgium’s seven nuclear reactors will be
offline….. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/13/belgium-nuclear-idUSL5E8KD9D420120913

September 14, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | EUROPE, safety