By Inti Landauro
PARIS--French power utility Engie (GSZ.FR), formerly known as
GDF Suez, on Wednesday said the two nuclear reactors halted in
Belgium since March 2014 will remain so until Nov. 1.
The two reactors--Doel 3 and Tihange 2--were shut down in the
spring by the Belgian authorities following tests on the reactors'
pressure vessels that showed "unexpected results" regarding their
resistance.
Both reactors had already been shut down in 2012 after
micro-cracks were found on their pressure vessels, which enclose
the reactors' cores.
Engie said the Belgian regulator will collect more opinions
before authorizing Electrabel, the company's Belgian unit, to
restart the reactors. The process will take another few months,
Engie said, citing estimations from the regulator.
The halting of the two reactors had a negative impact on Engie's
bottom line last year.
Write to Inti Landauro at inti.landauro@wsj.com
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