Two reactors scheduled to remain online for additional 10 years
French nuclear company Framatome has been selected by Electrabel for two major projects at nuclear power plants whose operational lifetimes are being extended in Belgium.
The majority state-owned company said it had won contracts for modernisation of the flux monitoring system of the Tihange-3 nuclear plant, and the modernisation, maintenance, and operational support of the motors and stators of the reactor coolant pumps at Doel-4 and Tihange-3.
The contracts follow the agreement signed in 2023 between French energy group Engie and the Belgian government to extend the operational lifetime of the two reactors.
The two plants are majority-owned by Engie’s Belgian unit Electrabel while Luminus, a subsidiary of French power company EDF, holds a minority stake.
Framatome said the modernisation of the flux monitoring system at Tihange-3, planned over several years, aims to fully replace the existing system. It includes every phase, from engineering studies to the supply of all necessary electrical, electronic, and mechanical components. Onsite installation and ongoing maintenance operations are also part of the project scope.
The flux monitoring system plays a critical role in reactor control, providing precise measurements of neutron power distribution within the reactor core and ensuring that the core’s behaviour aligns with both design and operational expectations.
The modernisation, maintenance and operational support of the motors and stators of the reactor coolant pumps at Tihange-3 and Doel-4 includes the supply of spare parts.
The reactor coolant pumps are crucial for the safety and efficiency of nuclear power plants. They circulate coolant at high temperature and pressure to remove heat generated by nuclear fission within the reactor core.
In March Engie formalised a 10-year extension of the Tihange-3 and Doel-4 nuclear power plants in partnership with the Belgian state.
In March 2022, in light of concerns about security of supply in the context of the energy crisis and the Russian war against Ukraine, the Belgian federal government decided to keep the two newest Belgian nuclear power plants – Tihange-3 near Liege and Doel-4 near Antwerp – in operation for an additional 10 years.
In February the Doel-1 nuclear power plant was permanently shut down, bringing the number of commercial reactors in operation in the country to four. Doel-3 and Tihange-2 had already been shut down in 2022 and 2023.
