Stichting Laka

Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
risks of reactor Lifetime extension Doel-4 and Tihange-3 (2023)

AuteurOda Becker, Gabriele Mraz
-
Datumnovember 2023
Classificatie 2.03.0.00/45 (BELGIË - ALGEMEEN)
Voorkant

Uit de publicatie:

risks of reactor Lifetime extension Doel-4 and Tihange-3

Opinion within the scope of the EIA procedure
Oda Becker, Gabriele Mraz (pulswerk GmbH )
Hanover, Vienna 05/11/2023
Commissioned by Greenpeace Belgium and Bond Beter Leefmilieu
(translation by Greenpeace of original German version)

Summary

Introduction and Procedure
An environmental impact assessment is currently underway for extending the 
life of the two reactors Doel-4 and Tihange-3. In 2025 both reactors should 
be shut down after 40 years of operation, now they should be in operation for 
10 years longer. However, these 10 years are only calculated from the first 
industrial power generation after 2025; the planned latest switch-off date is 
12/31/2037. 
The Doel-4 and Tihange-3 reactors were put into operation before the EIA 
legislation came into force.
The life extension EIAs are thus the first EIAs to be carried out for these two 
reactors. Therefore, the changes in the environment since commissioning, such as 
the sharp increase in population density, should also be taken into account.
Since a serious accident in Doel-4 or Tihange-3 could affect large parts of 
Europe, it would be appropriate to hold a Europe-wide public hearing as part of 
the EIA.

alternatives
Although the EIA report explains that any combination of energy forms that can 
ensure sufficient capacity and a high degree of operational reliability could 
theoretically be considered as an alternative, alternatives were not examined, but 
a political decision was made to extend the service life. The justification for 
extending the service life of Doel-4 and Tihange-3 is factually incorrect, because 
illogical conclusions are drawn from the current situation 1.
The political goal pursued with the lifetime extension, namely guaranteeing the 
security of the power supply, is also not secured, since the old reactors are also 
threatened by downtimes due to security-related events, just like in France.
In the period when there could be bottlenecks in the energy supply (2025 to 2027), 
the nuclear power plants would be switched off. They would only be connected to 
the grid again when additional offshore capacities are already connected or almost 
connected to the grid.
In addition, according to Elia, an increase in flexible capacity is required, but
Doel-4 and Tihange-3 cannot meet this. However, an extension of the service life 
of Doel-4 and Tihange-3 would hinder the desired expansion of renewable energies.
A technically well-founded review of the possible alternatives through renewable 
energies must be carried out and their potential environmental impact evaluated 
comparatively instead of presenting a political decision based on illogical 
conclusions to extend the life of the reactors Doel-4 and Tihange-3 as without 
alternative and negating their environmental impact.

Deze publicatie is digitaal beschikbaar in de Laka-biblitoheek maar de pdf staat niet online.
Mail ons (info@laka.org) als u de pdf toegestuurd wilt krijgen (met onderwerp, volgnummer en titel). U kunt natuurlijk ook langskomen.