Three French nuclear reactors shut down amid heatwave
Paris, July 13
Three nuclear reactors in France have been shut down, and eight others are operating at reduced power amid the ongoing heatwave, local media reported.
French daily Le Parisien on Sunday quoted state-owned electric utility company EDF as saying that the reactors were taken offline "because of the weather conditions and in order to comply with regulations governing thermal discharges and therefore protect the environment".
High river temperatures can limit the ability of nuclear power plants to use river water for cooling, requiring operators to reduce output or temporarily halt operations to meet environmental regulations, Xinhua news agency reported.
In a report released on Thursday, Meteo-France said that, following the exceptional heatwave that swept France in late June, scorching temperatures are once again spreading across much of the country.
On Sunday, the national weather agency placed 37 departments under its highest-level red heatwave alert since 12 p.m. local time (1000 GMT), warning that temperatures in the affected areas could reach between 37 degrees and 41 degrees Celsius.
On Sunday, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said in an interview with French television channel BFM TV that 139 people had died from drowning since June 19, an increase of 18 per cent compared with the same period last year.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris announced on its official website on Saturday that it will close at 4 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Saturday and Sunday due to soaring temperatures, instead of its regular closing time of 00:45 am (2245 GMT) the following day.
The Louvre Museum and the Orsay Museum in Paris have also shortened their opening hours. The Louvre will close at 4 p.m. (1400 GMT) through July 13, while the Orsay Museum will close at 5 p.m. (1500 GMT) through July 15.
According to French media reports, around one-quarter of France is under a red alert for extreme heat. Meteo-France forecast a high of 36 degrees Celsius in Paris on Saturday, with temperatures in some other parts of the country expected to reach 39 to 40 degrees Celsius. The current heatwave is expected to persist until the middle of next week.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's ironic that a country so proud of its nuclear energy program has to shut down plants because of heat. Meanwhile, in India, we're pushing for more nuclear power to meet our growing demands. But this shows we need to plan for climate extremes—our plants in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu might face similar issues someday. The drowning deaths are equally alarming; we have similar tragedies during monsoons. Climate change is global!
Interesting to see France grappling with 41°C while we in India regularly hit 45°C+ in summers. Our thermal plants often struggle too, but we tend to prioritize power supply over environmental compliance. Maybe we can learn from EDF's approach of shutting down rather than risking ecological damage. The Eiffel Tower closing early is a cute gesture, but it won't solve the bigger energy crisis. Need more renewables, abey!
As someone who's lived in both India and Europe, I can tell you that while France's heatwave is intense by their standards, it's nothing compared to what we face. But the real issue is infrastructure resilience. If their nuclear plants can't handle 40°C, how will they cope with more frequent heatwaves? India needs to watch this closely and adapt our energy planning accordingly.
The drowning deaths statistic is heartbreaking. 139 in just a few weeks! In India, we see similar numbers during heatwaves and floods. France's response—closing landmarks early—feels inadequate when people are dying. Governments worldwide need to take heatwaves more seriously. And for nuclear power, maybe we should consider small modular reactors that use less cooling water. Just a thought. 😔
K < We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.