ANVS inspectors oversee maintenance of Borssele nuclear power plant
Starting on Friday 4 April, the Borssele nuclear power plant will shut down for several weeks to allow annual major maintenance to be carried out and part of the fissionable material to be replaced. Inspectors from the ANVS will monitor safety during the maintenance period.
Fuel replacement
EPZ, the nuclear power plant’s owner, plans to replace roughly one quarter of the uranium (or uranium and plutonium) rods during the annual fuel change. These fuel rods are located in the reactor core and power the nuclear facility.
Major maintenance
During the fuel change, the nuclear power plant supplies no electricity. For owner EPZ this is a good opportunity to carry out major maintenance. Approximately 1,500 minor and major tasks are scheduled this time, ranging from cleaning pipes to inspecting valves, pumps and actuators.
Significant activity around the nuclear power plant
A large workforce is required for the fuel change and maintenance. To meet this need, EPZ hires hundreds of additional workers. Extra trucks will be deployed and building containers will be set up at the site.
Monitoring by the ANVS
The ANVS will be regularly on-site at the nuclear power plant during the maintenance period. Our inspectors verify that the work is conducted safely, preventing any release of radioactive materials into the environment.
Maintenance teams work near highly radioactive parts of the plant. We make sure they work safely and avoid harmful radiation exposure.
We also ensure that all essential safety tasks are fully completed before the plant is restarted.