nuclear-news

Belgium’s closed nuclear reactors may remain shut

Nuclear Shutdowns Leave Belgium Looking for Power Closure of Three Nuclear Power Plants  WSJ By  VANESSA MOCK  21 Aug 14,  BRUSSELS—Belgian authorities are racing to map out emergency plans in case of a severe energy crunch this winter. The country could face energy shortfalls in the depths of winter after the sudden closure of three major nuclear power plants over the past months.

Two nuclear reactors, Doel 3 and Tihange 2, were closed in May after cracks appeared in the steel reactor casings, and another large plant, Doel 4, closed down on Aug. 5, after an oil leak which its French parent company GDF Suez GSZ.FR +0.38% said was due to sabotage.

The incidents mean that all three plants are likely to remain out of action until the end of the year, depriving Belgium of more than half its nuclear capacity.

Belgium’s parliament is holding a special session on Friday to discuss situation and it has commissioned the national crisis center to set out possible scenarios in case of a power shortages this winter.

If shortages look imminent, authorities would launch an appeal, urging the general public to cut down on energy use and would order some industrial firms to reduce production…….. http://online.wsj.com/articles/nuclear-shutdowns-leave-belgium-looking-for-power-1408632643

August 22, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized