2023-07-28 05:04:00
At the end of last year, we learned that the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) had placed the Tihange power plant under heightened surveillance, following a series of incidents and shortcomings noted in the safety culture. Staff.
In October 2022, Tihange 2 had stopped unexpectedly, probably due to the use of a mobile phone by a member of staff in a place where they are normally prohibited.
In addition, other shortcomings had already been noted in Tihange in the past. After the proliferation of small incidents, the FANC filed a first “pro justitia” in August 2015, followed by a second in June 2016.
For lack of sufficient reaction from the nuclear operator, Jan Bens, at the time director of the AFCN, had finally arrested Isabelle Kocher, at the time boss of Engie and president of the board of directors of Electrabel . Engie had also appointed Thierry Saegeman as director of nuclear activities at Electrabel, in order to rectify the situation. The latter has since become head of Electrabel.
Agreement reached between Engie and the State to extend nuclear power by 10 years
Supervision
The GSM incident of October 2022, combined with other incidents dating from 2021 and 2022, had finally led the FANC to place Tihange under enhanced surveillance. “We have once more seen minor incidents that should not be dramatized, declared Lut Vande Velde, communication and information director of the FANC, during a hearing in the Chamber. But, for us, it is intolerable in a nuclear power plant.”
This enhanced monitoring was initially due to end in February 2023. Eventually, the procedure was extended, at least until next October. “Reinforced surveillance has made it possible to note improvements, explains Louise Lienard, spokesperson for the FANC. Nevertheless, the FANC and BEL V (Editor’s note: the technical subsidiary of the FANC) wished not to lift the procedure. They want to ensure that improvements in safety culture, accountability and rigor are sufficiently entrenched.” In summary, the nuclear policeman wishes to ensure that these improvements will persist, once the reinforced surveillance procedure has been lifted.
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The nuclear policeman has decided to maintain this special regime, at least until the restart of Tihange 3. It is planned that reactor number 3 will be shut down for periodic work and refueling, from August 19 to August 8 next October. “This shutdown period will allow the FANC and Bel V to observe a large number of activities, adds Louise Lienard. The enhanced monitoring will be lifted when the FANC and Bel V consider that the plant is able to continue its efforts independently.
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