Belgium closes another nuclear reactor

Despite the energy crisis in Europe, the operation of the Tihange 2 nuclear reactor in Huy, Belgium will stop at 23:59 local time today.

Thus, the connection to the electrical network of the nuclear reactor, which came into operation in 1983, will cease after 40 years of service.

The Tihange 2 reactor, one of the 3 reactors of the Tihange Nuclear Power Plant, which will be closed due to the nuclear exit law drawn up in line with decisions made by previous governments in Belgium, had an annual electricity production capacity of 1055 megawatt-hours.

A total of 7 reactors were operating in Belgium, 4 at the Doel nuclear power plant near the Dutch border and 3 at the Tihange nuclear power plant near the German-Luxembourg border. The electricity produced by these reactors normally covered around half of the country’s needs.

Before the Russia-Ukraine War, the Belgian government had prepared a plan for the decommissioning of nuclear power plants by 2025.

THE TIME OF 2 REACTORS WILL BE EXTENDED

In accordance with the decisions of the previous governments, the Doel 3 reactor was closed in September last year and the Tihange 2 reactor was decided to close in February 2023.

Due to the energy crisis, the current government started working on extending the operation period of these reactors, but during negotiations between the reactor operators and the government, it was determined that it was not technically and legally possible to postpone the closure. process at this stage, and this would pose security risks.

On the other hand, Belgium decided to extend the operating period of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 reactors by 10 years, which it planned to close in 2025, to avoid power cuts after the start of the war. The 2 reactors, whose operating periods have been extended, are known as the nuclear facilities the country last built in 1985. (BRITISH AUTOMOBILE CLUB)