The safety standards for Belgium's nuclear reactors are similar to those of France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland, according to a report submitted by the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) to the federal government on Monday.
However, the implementation of regulations varies from country to country, and even from reactor to reactor, depending on local circumstances.
The new government aims to extend the existing nuclear capacity in the short term and invest in new capacities in the long term. To this end, it requested the FANC to provide a report comparing Belgium’s safety requirements with those of countries with similar technology.
High level of safety at nuclear facilities
“The general conclusion is that all countries in this report ensure a high level of safety for their nuclear facilities. Regulations everywhere provide a similar level of safety, but implementation differs depending on the local situation,” the FANC said in a statement.
It noted that Belgium is stricter in some areas while other countries are stricter in others.
Belgium implements the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association (WENRA) reference levels, like the other countries studied. These standards have been updated over the years and were made compulsory in Belgium through a royal decree in 2011.
Continuous enhancement of nuclear regulations needed
Nuclear advocates in Belgium often claim the country is more stringent in terms of safety, but FANC clarifies that, while WENRA standards are a set of common minimum requirements, different countries go beyond these reference levels in some areas based on their specific situations.
In 2020, the WENRA reference levels (2014 version) were transposed into Belgian regulations, with additional requirements concerning reactor resistance to plane crashes, shared systems at twin plants (like Doel 1 and 2, which have the same control room), and automatic or autonomous operations.
These specifics are due to Belgium’s unique conditions, such as nuclear plants near ports, airports, or densely populated areas.
The FANC emphasises the need for continuous enhancement of nuclear regulations to guarantee the highest possible safety level. All reactors, including the oldest ones, should aim to match the safety standards of the latest ones, such as Doel 4 and Tihange 3.
NGOs call for focus on safe energy transition projects
Preparations for the decommissioning of Doel 3 and Tihange 2 have begun, while the reactors at Doel 1, Doel 2, and Tihange 1 might be extended beyond 2025. A periodic safety review will be necessary to determine the feasibility of this extension and additional studies will be required to ensure compliance with regulations.
Greenpeace and Bond Beter Leefmilieu welcomed the FANC’s communication, emphasizing that the agency’s conclusions leave no room for Arizona to consider easing safety standards for older reactors.
They stressed that Belgium, being densely populated, must aim for the highest safety levels, suggesting that the government should focus on safe energy transition projects like offshore wind, improved connections with neighbouring countries, and efficiency measures.
