Minister Hendricks: Nuclear power plants should be taken off grid during testing
In light of comments from the Reactor Safety Commission (RSK) and discussions between German and Belgian nuclear safety experts, Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks has requested that the Belgian Government take the nuclear reactor blocks Tihange 2 and Doel 3 off the grid until the unresolved safety issues have been clarified. Hydrogen flakes were found in the reactor pressure vessels of the two nuclear power plants.
The independent RSK were requested by Minister Hendricks to issue a position statement. In their assessment of the reactors' safety margins in the event of pressures caused by an incident, the RSK came to the conclusion that from today's perspective, there is "no concrete indication that the safety distances are being eroded. However, it cannot be confirmed that they are being fully complied with either."
Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks: "The independent experts of the RSK cannot confirm that the safety margins of Tihange 2 and Doel 3 can be maintained. I therefore think it is best to temporarily take the plants off the grid, at least until further tests have been carried out. I have asked the Belgian Government to take this step. It would show that the Belgians are taking clear precautionary measures and that they are taking the concerns of their German neighbours seriously."
On Minister Hendricks' initiative, the newly founded German-Belgian expert working group on nuclear safety convened on 5 and 6 April to discuss the findings regarding the Doel 3 and Tihange 2 power plants. The hydrogen flakes found in the reactor pressure vessels of both nuclear power plants were the background to the discussions. The Belgian supervisory authorities responded to outstanding questions from the BMUB during the meeting.
As a result of the meeting, German and Belgian experts are advocating further tests to support the claims made with regard to safety. The first proposals for a test programme have already been developed by the Belgian side. The Federal Environment Ministry welcomes the initiative and is prepared to accompany the testing process together with the Belgian experts at international level. The Belgian nuclear authorities are responsible for nuclear safety, ultimate responsibility lies with the Minister of the Interior Jan Jambon.
Minister Hendricks stated: "I would like to thank Belgium for the open and constructive manner in which the talks with German experts was conducted. It is good that the Belgian nuclear authorities want to carry out further tests, as was recommended by our experts."