Belgian power reconnections 'remain complicated' after floods: Ores

Four municipalities in the Walloon region of Belgium are still suffering partial disconnections after the devastating floods of July 15, local distribution system operator Ores said in an update late July 18.

Over 300 electricity distribution cabins were disconnected by the floods, with the provinces of Liege, Luxembourg and Namur affected most.

"Conditions of access to the electricity distribution network remain complicated," the company said July 18, advising flooded households to unplug electrical appliances and turn off circuit breakers.

As of late afternoon July 18 power had been restored to around 20 municipalities in Ores' supply network, but only 40% of the network had been restored in the municipality of Verviers, 50% in Theux, 75% in Limburg (with work in progress in the flooded Vesdre valley), and 70% in Eupen.

Meanwhile Belgian transmission system operator Elia said that, after two days of flood waters preventing access to the Pepinster substation in Liege, engineers were able to access the site late July 16.

"The damage is extensive, our teams are preparing repairs. Meanwhile we work on a temporary solution with the local distribution system operator," it said.

It had partly restarted the On substation in Rochefort, it said.

Previously generator Engie Electrabel had said the floods had not threatened the safe operation of the Tihange nuclear power plant.

The flow of the Meuse was closely monitored and had remained "well below the threshold for the shutdown of the units," it said late July 15.