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Experts approve restart of cracked Belgian nuke plantsAFP BRUSSELS -- Scientific experts have greenlit the restart of two Belgian nuclear power plants despite signs of micro-cracks in reactor vessels, the daily Le Soir said Saturday.
January 7, 2013, 1:44 am TWN No independent confirmation was immediately available from Belgium's nuclear safety authority, AFCN. Le Soir, which did not identify its sources, said “experts on material resistance who were asked for their opinion on the fate of the Tihange 2 and Doel 3 vessels have handed in a positive report.” AFCN had said it would hand the government a report on whether to restart the reactors in mid-January. It has already received a positive report from the country's Electrabel power utility. Le Soir said the experts had however asked for “more intensive” checks. Many “potential cracks” were found during inspections early last year at the base of the reactor vessel at Doel 3, near the northern city of Antwerp, which was closed in June, as well as at Tihange 2, near the southern city of Liege. |
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