16 May (NucNet): Belgium’s Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (Fanc) has approved the restart of the Tihange-1 nuclear reactor unit, which has been offline since 7 September 2016 following damage to a non-nuclear building during upgrade work. Fanc said on 15 May 2017 that operator Engie Electrabel had shown all necessary work for the safe operation of the plant had been carried out. FANC said upgrade work that led to the damage was being done as part of a life extension of the unit to 1 October 2025. During the upgrade work, the building equipped with auxiliary components was damaged, causing the reactor to trip. The pumps in the auxiliary building must be continuously available, Fanc said. Tihange-1, a 962-MW pressurised water reactor unit, began commercial operation on 1 October 1975.
