Doel nuclear plant shut own after disruption

Belgian nuclear reactor Doel 4, just across the Dutch border, shut down automatically due to a fault on Saturday evening. The shutdown was an automatic procedure and there is no danger for the environment and the population, a Doel spokesperson said, ANP reports.

According to reports in Belgian media, the fault occurred in the non-nuclear part of the plant. The reactor was to be restarted on Sunday night, but that was postponed until Monday for unknown reasons.

Due to the shutdown, the nuclear power plant can not produce any electricity. A spokesperson told VRT Nieuws that this should not lead to power interruptions for the public. Operator Engie Elctrabel will import more electricity from abroad. This electricity mainly comes from the Netherlands and France, according to ANP.

The Doel nuclear power plant is located northwest of Antwerp, just across the Dutch border. The plant faced multiple problems in the past, causing unrest among local residents, both in the Netherlands and Belgium. In April nuclear reactor Doel 1 was shut down due to a leak in the nuclear part of the plant.