Nuclear reactor in Belgian Tihange automatically switched off after test

BRUSSELS, Aug 19 (Reuters) - One of three reactors of the nuclear power plant Tihange in Belgium automatically switched off on Friday after a scheduled test, a spokesperson for operator Engie said, adding the company was working to get the reactor back on the grid quickly.

"It was an automatic stop resulting from a test," Engie spokeswoman Hellen Smeets told Reuters, adding that the company was analysing the situation after the stop.

Engie is operating seven reactors in Belgium in total, three in Tihange near Liege and four in Doel near Antwerp.

"We will try to get the reactor back on the grid as soon as possible," she said, adding there had been no danger for the population and she was not expecting any supply problems despite the current energy crunch.

Smeets said the reactor was working at its full capacity of 1,000 megawatt when it was switched off, a capacity that could be made up from other sources on the energy market.

Belgium was to have exited nuclear power entirely in 2025, but now wants to extend the lives of its two newest reactors, Doel 4 and Tihange 3.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Edmund Blair)