BELGIUM/FILE: Greenpeace threatens to sue the Belgian government after Belgian regulator clears GDF subsidiary Infrabel to restart nuclear reactors

Record ID: 326307

  • Title: BELGIUM/FILE: Greenpeace threatens to sue the Belgian government after Belgian regulator clears GDF subsidiary Infrabel to restart nuclear reactors
  • Date: 17th May 2013
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (MAY 17, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF FEDERAL AGENCY FOR NUCLEAR CONTROL (SOUNDBITE) (French) BELGIAN FEDERAL AGENCY FOR NUCLEAR CONTROL DIRECTOR, JAN BENS, SAYING: "For almost a year, we have conducted studies and material tests to explain the phenomenon that occurred in the tanks of Doel 3 and Tihange 2 reactors. These results were positive. All
  • Embargoed: 1st June 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: Environment,Politics,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVAEP6XHQP3RP9310B0A4EK7BUUV
  • Story Text: Belgium's nuclear safety regulator has given approval for GDF Suez to restart two nuclear reactors closed last year over safety concerns, it said in a report on Friday (May 17).
    The head of Belgium's nuclear watchdog, Jan Bens, said all of the safety concerns had been resolved satisfactorily and added the reactors might be back in service within three weeks.
    "For almost a year, we have conducted studies and material test to explain the phenomenon that occurred in the tanks of Doel 3 and Tihange 2 reactors. These results were positive. All safety levels are respected, which has led us to give the green light for the safe restart of the two plants. Now it is for the operator Electrabel to put in place the restarting procedures, which should normally take between two and three weeks," Bens said.
    Belgian Interior Minister Joelle Milquet said at a news conference that the government wasn't legally able to interfere in the watchdog's decision nor able to block the restarting of the reactors .
    "We are dealing here with an independent regulator, which provides technical advice to an operator on the restarting of its operations. We do not have the ability to interfere in the decision, since this is an independent operator. For this reason, we acknowledge the decision. We have listened with interest to all the explanations and analysis, and so will the parliament next week," Milquet said.
    Rights group Greenpeace criticized the government's reaction, saying it was its responsibility to guarantee the safety of the Belgian people.
    An energy campaigner with the environmental organization, Eloi Glorieux said it would take the government to court.
    "The government neglects its task to defend the safety, security, to protect the population. at the same time, it approves the restart of risky reactors. So we absolutely do not accept this and that's why we are now taking the government to court. We will summon the government for the lack of decent emergency plan and at the same time they increase the risks of a nuclear accident," Glorieux said.
    Belgium halted the 1,006-megawatt Doel 3 reactor in August last year after indications of cracks were discovered on the core tank during ultrasound checks.
    A month later, it found similar flaws on the 1,008-MW Tihange 2 after it tested the tank during a routine stoppage, leaving Belgium without a third of its nuclear power generation capacity.
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