Electrabel continuously invests in the maintenance and modernization of the installations of the nuclear power plants in Doel and Tihange. They are continuously modernised. In addition to the periodic outages for maintenance, which take place every 12 or 18 months, there are ten-yearly periodic safety reviews under the supervision of the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control, when the power stations are assessed against the latest international safety standards. These periodic safety reviews result in an action plan for updating the installations, processes and procedures, or the business culture. A few examples of actions that were performed after periodic safety reviews:

• The replacement of all steam generators in the power stations.
• The installation and/or strengthening of a second level of diesel generators and other auxiliary systems which continue to cool the power stations in the event of black-out.
• The installation of hydrogen collection systems which prevent potentially explosive atmospheres from hydrogen gas.
• Strengthening different training programs for staff.
• The replacement of radiation monitors at the access and exit points of the radioactive areas. These ensure that radioactively contaminated material or staff cannot enter or exit the zones.
• The establishment of a ‘Human Performance’ program to prevent human errors.

Electrabel also continuously invests in safe and healthy working conditions for its employees. To this end, both the Doel and Tihange nuclear power plants are ISO 45001 (formerly OHSAS 18001) certified.