13 Jul (NucNet): The Doel-3 nuclear power unit in Belgium is to be restarted in the coming days following the completion of work to reinforce a building that had been subject to concrete degradation.
The bunker building houses equipment used to rapidly reduce the steam pressure in a primary or secondary cooling loop if normal pressure reduction systems are too slow or not available.
Last year, during a planned shutdown of the 1,006-MW pressurised water reactor, operator Engie Electrabel noted a deterioration of the concrete ceilings and walls of the building, which adjoins the reactor building.
The Belgian Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (Fanc) said the deterioration called into question the resistance of the building to an external event such as an airplane crash.
Repair work initially planned on the building was not sufficient and the operator decided to carry out additional work by placing an additional roof structure on the building, Fanc said.
Bel V, Fanc’s technical subsidiary, evaluated the repair plans and carried out a number of site inspections, Fanc said.
Fanc has now told Engie Electrabel that the plant, which began commercial operation in 1982, can be restarted.
