Belgian nuclear reactors get ten extra years of life

Belgium's federal energy minister Marie Christine Marghem announced on 29 July 2015 the lifespan of two Belgian nuclear reactors would be extended beyond their initial forecast.

Negotiations were concluded with energy company Electrabel for reactors Doel 1 and 2 to last for 10 more years, until 2025. This decision appeared to ensure security of electricity supply in Belgium, according to the government.

About half of Belgium's electricity supply came from its seven nuclear reactors. Three of them were offline for months in 2014, another two suffered from temporary shutdowns. The temporary loss of part of the nuclear power, combined with a possibility of a harsh winter, caused concern in the winter of 2014-15 that Belgium could be faced with blackouts.

In January 2016, Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg raised concerns over the ageing Belgian nuclear reactors recently brought back to life after being shut down for more than two years over safety concerns.

ESO: Background information: Belgium asks for solidarity to prevent electricity blackouts http://www.europeansources.info/record/belgium-asks-for-solidarity-to-prevent-electricity-blackouts/

Deutsche Welle, 26.12.15: Belgium restarts controversial aging nuclear reactor http://dw.com/p/1HU6e

Deutsche Welle, 16.12.15: Germans worried about relaunch of old Belgian nuclear reactors http://dw.com/p/1HOF2

Deutsche Welle, 23.12.15: Nuclear protesters bemoan German-Belgian rift http://dw.com/p/1HS36

Wikipedia: Nuclear energy in Belgium https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_energy_in_Belgium

World Nuclear Association: Nuclear Power in Belgium http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Profiles/Countries-A-F/Belgium/

The Guardian, 16.12.15: Belgium angers Germany with nuclear reactor restart http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/16/belgium-angers-germany-with-nuclear-reactor-restart

EUObserver, 19.01.16: Belgian nuclear plants under scrutiny by neighbour countries https://euobserver.com/energy/131907

France24, 29.01.16: Belgium's neighbours fret over reboot of ageing nuclear reactors http://www.france24.com/en/20160128-belgium-nuclear-reactors-doel-tihange-security

Deutsche Welle, 08.02.16: Lawsuits against nuclear reactors in Belgium kick off http://dw.com/p/1Hrgz

EurActiv, 05.04.16: Brussels weighs the cost of another century of nuclear power http://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/brussels-weighs-the-cost-of-another-century-of-nuclear-power/

EurActiv, 20.04.16: Germany tells Belgium to take two nuclear reactors offline http://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/germany-tells-belgium-to-take-two-nuclear-reactors-offline/

EUObserver, 21.04.16: Shut your nuclear plants, Germany tells Belgium https://euobserver.com/energy/133154

Deutsche Welle, 21.04.16: Renewed shutdowns cast doubt on Belgian nuclear safety http://dw.com/p/1IaU0

Deutsche Welle, 11.06.16: New incident at Belgium's Tihange 2 nuclear plant http://dw.com/p/1J4xj

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