Belgian nuclear watchdog leaves door open for delaying decommissioning of nuclear reactor

Belgium's nuclear watchdog FANC appears to be leaving the door open for a delay in preparing the decommissioning of the Doel 3 nuclear reactor. The nuclear reactor is scheduled to stop generating power on September 23 and the plans to prepare for its decommissioning are already on the table. On Wednesday, Home Affairs Minister Annelies Verlinden asked FANC whether that decommissioning operation could be safely postponed. According to the minister, the FANC has now replied that "an alternative planning for the preparation of the decommissioning (...) is not excluded, provided there is sufficient certainty about nuclear safety".

Belgium's nuclear exit plan foresaw the closure of the nuclear reactor by 2023, but the decommissioning of Doel 3 has become politically contested because of the energy crisis. The legal closure date for Doel 3 is October 1, but the reactor would stop generating power on September 23 according to the recently approved closure plan. Meanwhile, several majority parties have started calling for its decommissioning to be stopped.

Home Affairs Minister Annelies Verlinden consequently asked the FANC to investigate "whether the preparation for the decommissioning of Doel 3 can be safely postponed". The shutdown of the nuclear power plant itself is not being called into question, but only the subsequent decommissioning. Delaying the decommissioning would possibly allow the reactor to be reactivated at a later date.

According to Minister Verlinden, the FANC has now replied that "an alternative planning for the preparation of decommissioning (...) is not excluded, provided there is sufficient certainty on nuclear safety". 

"We will indeed never compromise on safety," Verlinden asserted.

The minister stated that FANC's analysis will now be further discussed by the government. 

(KOR)

The Doel nuclear power plant in Doel, Beveren © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM