How safe is nuclear power in Belgium?
Nuclear safety is, of course, our very first priority, and it will remain so until the very last day.
The performance and safety of Belgian nuclear power plants is closely monitored by many independent bodies such as the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC). The Belgian sites undergo an average of about 50 audits each year, which means almost 1 audit per week. Representatives of FANC and their technical branch, BEL V, have permanent access to our sites.
The 4 reactors at Doel and the 3 reactors at Tihange are of the PWR (Pressurized Water Reactors) type. These pressurized water reactors are among the safest in the world. In terms of design, Belgian nuclear power plants also have a number of additional strengths that not all plants in our neighbouring countries have, by the way. So for example, they have a double-walled reactor building and a back-up control room. The main safety systems, which in all circumstances shut down the reactors safely and continue to cool the fuel, exist in multiple redundant versions. If 1 system were to fail, there are always other systems which can take over the function in all possible circumstances.
Nuclear safety is, of course, our very first priority, and it will remain so until the very last day.