The Doel 4 nuclear reactor in East Flanders that has been out of service since Friday won’t re-enter service until Monday 31 December. The reactor was to have started producing electricity again today. However, the energy production and supply company Engie Electrabel’s spokeswoman Anne-Sophie Hugé has told the press agency Belga that maintenance work on the reactor will take longer than was originally planned.
On Friday Doel 4 a clogged filter in a secondary circuit caused production at the reactor to be stopped. Work to resolve to issue was to have taken just a couple of days. However, Engie-Electrabel now say that the reactor will be out of action for another week.
The Doel 4 only re-entered service on 13 December after having been out of action since last summer while repairs were carried out to concrete that had become worn.
According to Engie Electrabel, it isn’t abnormal that a reactor encounters some difficulties when it re-enters services after having been out of action for a long period. The company is keen to stress that there is no danger to the public. Currently just 2 of Belgium’s 7 nuclear reactors (Doel 3 and Tihange 1) are in service.
