Nuclear security

Renewed shutdowns cast doubt on Belgian nuclear safety

With doubts about the safety of Belgium's nuclear reactors rife among neighboring countries, and the threat of attacks on its nuclear sites still a valid concern, the news that one of the country's disputed reactors had once again shut down unexpectedly on Thursday wasn't encouraging.

Late in the afternoon, utilities operator Engie Electrabel announced that the 34-year-old Doel 3 reactor near the city of Antwerp, close to the border with the Netherlands, had automatically shut down following a standard test - "normal procedure if there is an anomaly," according to a plant spokesperson. The Belga news agency said the outage was expected to last for 24 hours.