The Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) has given the green light for the restart and continued operation of the Tihange 3 nuclear reactor, the regulator announced on Friday.
Tihange 3 is one of the reactors, along with Doel 4, that will generate electricity for ten years longer, until 2035. The government has reached an agreement on this with operator Engie.
The FANC's approval is also required to keep the power stations open for longer. This is now the case for Tihange 3. Engie had to submit a comprehensive dossier and action plan, which has been approved by the FANC.
Tihange 3 has been shut down since early April for extensive maintenance with a view to remaining open for ten years. During this period, work was carried out that the FANC deemed absolutely necessary for the plant to remain open longer, such as the replacement of certain parts. Engie now has three years, until September 2028, to complete the rest of the work.
In concrete terms, Tihange 3 may therefore be restarted in the coming days, according to Engie's schedule. This is well ahead of the 1 November date that had been agreed for the restart, before the start of winter.
