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| Belgium rejects German call for nuclear plants closure | Belgium rejects German call for nuclear plants closure |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Belgium on Wednesday rejected a request by neighbouring Germany to shutter two ageing nuclear plants near their shared border, arguing the facilities met with the strictest safety standards. | Belgium on Wednesday rejected a request by neighbouring Germany to shutter two ageing nuclear plants near their shared border, arguing the facilities met with the strictest safety standards. |
| German environment minister, Barbara Hendricks, earlier on Wednesday requested that the 40-year-old Tihange 2 and Doel 3 reactors be turned off “until the resolution of outstanding security issues”. | |
| In response, Belgium’s official nuclear safety agency (AFCN) said the two plants “respond to the strictest possible safety requirements.” | In response, Belgium’s official nuclear safety agency (AFCN) said the two plants “respond to the strictest possible safety requirements.” |
| The agency “is always willing to collaborate with their German counterparts ... but only as long as a shared willingness to cooperate in a constructive fashion is demonstrated,” it added in a terse statement. | |
| Related: Shut old nuclear reactors, says unprecedented alliance of EU cities | Related: Shut old nuclear reactors, says unprecedented alliance of EU cities |
| The reactor at Tihange is located just 60 kilometres (40 miles) from the German border, while Doel is about 130 kilometres away, and close to Antwerp. | The reactor at Tihange is located just 60 kilometres (40 miles) from the German border, while Doel is about 130 kilometres away, and close to Antwerp. |
| The reactor pressure vessels at both sites have shown signs of metal degradation, raising fears about their safety. | The reactor pressure vessels at both sites have shown signs of metal degradation, raising fears about their safety. |
| They were temporarily closed but resumed service last December. | They were temporarily closed but resumed service last December. |
| “I believe it is right to temporarily take the plants off-line, at least until further investigations have been completed,” minister Hendricks said in a statement. | “I believe it is right to temporarily take the plants off-line, at least until further investigations have been completed,” minister Hendricks said in a statement. |
| Such a step would be “a strong precautionary measure” and “would show that Belgium takes the concerns of its German neighbours seriously,” she said. | Such a step would be “a strong precautionary measure” and “would show that Belgium takes the concerns of its German neighbours seriously,” she said. |
| Belgium’s creaking nuclear plants have been causing safety concerns for some time after a series of problems ranging from leaks to cracks and an unsolved sabotage incident. | Belgium’s creaking nuclear plants have been causing safety concerns for some time after a series of problems ranging from leaks to cracks and an unsolved sabotage incident. |
| The Doel and Tihange power stations have been in service since 1974-1975, and were scheduled to be shut down in 2015. | The Doel and Tihange power stations have been in service since 1974-1975, and were scheduled to be shut down in 2015. |
| But the Belgian government in December decided to extend their lives to 2025. | But the Belgian government in December decided to extend their lives to 2025. |
| Germany - where the public mood swung against nuclear power following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster - decided after Japan’s Fukushima meltdown five years ago to phase out nuclear power by 2022. | Germany - where the public mood swung against nuclear power following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster - decided after Japan’s Fukushima meltdown five years ago to phase out nuclear power by 2022. |
| Germany in early March also demanded that France close down its oldest nuclear plant, Fessenheim, located near the German and Swiss borders, over safety concerns. | Germany in early March also demanded that France close down its oldest nuclear plant, Fessenheim, located near the German and Swiss borders, over safety concerns. |