Lower likelihood of restart for Belgium's Doel 3 and Tihange 2 reactors

According to a September 11 report by Le Soir,samples collected nearly two years ago from the reactor pressure vessels of Belgium's Doel 3 and Tihange 2 reactors indicate that the possibility of restarting these two nuclear reactors is extremely low.

In the winter of 2024 to 2025, operator Engie successively took samples from the Doel 3 reactor pressure vessel and the Tihange 2 reactor pressure vessel. The sampling work was carried out at the request of the Belgian Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (Federal Agency for Nuclear Control, FANC) and the Belgian National Agency for Radioactive Waste and Enriched Fissile Materials (NIRAS), which is responsible for radioactive waste management, with the aim of measuring in detail the radiation levels at different parts of the pressure vessels so as to classify and dispose of the related waste.

The Belgian federal government is currently studying the possibility of putting some nuclear units back into operation. However, according to the relevant circumstances, unless the reactor pressure vessels are replaced, the sampling work has already made it difficult for Doel 3 and Tihange 2 to be restored to service. Pressure vessel replacement has never previously been carried out on this type of unit.

Engie stated that the above-mentioned sampling work took place before its negotiations with the Belgian government on the possible nationalization of nuclear power assets. The office of Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet stated that the relevant departments are assessing the condition of these reactors, and the assessment is expected to determine whether it is technically feasible and economically viable to carry out life extension modifications for each unit.