This November SABO and Sempell, two of Tyco Valves & Controls specialist service brands, will complete a EUR 1.5 million service contract which will encompass a major shutdown service package at Electrabel’s Doel power stations, near Antwerp, Belgium. The team will complete shutdowns at all four Doel sites, including the 1000MW Doel 3 and 4. SABO and Sempell collaborated to provide streamlined, efficient and consistent service with a single point of contact, and to ensure an optimal number of engineers were available on-site at all times.

This approach minimised downtime and allowed the plants to restart as quickly as possible. The four Doel sites provide around 30% of Belgium’s energy demand, so efficiency of service was a key requirement. The length of shutdown for each plant was around 2-3 weeks, with up to 40 highly qualified service technicians working on the project around the clock, managing the shutdowns from start to finish. As with all nuclear projects, MRO services require thorough documentation to adhere to strict guidelines. This documentation was provided as part of the service package. The sites were visited six weeks before commencing the shutdown to scope the project and create an inventory of spare parts needed before work began.