France powers down nuclear reactors over heatwave

French power company on Sunday reported that three nuclear reactors have been temporarily turned off, while eight others are working under decreased power because of heat wave in France.

“Because of weather conditions and to respect regulations on (water) discharge, so as to preserve the environment,” three reactors located in Golfech, Bugey and Chooz plants situated near the banks of the Garonne, Rhone and Meuse rivers, have been turned off, the French EDF Group informed AFP.

Such a step is made in order to preserve the environment because of the regulation of water discharges and prevent excessive warming of rivers caused by heat wave.

French power plants essential for the country’s electricity generation take river water for cooling purposes, thus, they warm up this water which goes back to the river.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Economy granted an exemption regarding the temperatures limits of warming of the Rhone near the Bugey plant “to ensure the safety of the power grid,” till July 20.

This is the second time recently that EDF has had to shut down some of its nuclear power plants in the wake of unprecedented heatwaves in France.

Indeed, the heatwave currently hitting France for the third time since May caused over a third of the country to be under heat alert, per the French national meteorological agency, as of Sunday.

Over 25 million people experienced temperatures forecast to go up to 41C, according to AFP estimates based on population numbers.

The heatwave has forced several holiday destinations to close earlier than usual and even led to the cancellation of events and one day less in Tour de France.

Forest fires and death by drowning have occurred at an increased rate as a consequence of the heat wave.

France has suffered from several successive episodes of intense heat waves since the beginning of May, leading to excess mortality and highlighting issues of infrastructure adapted to extreme climate conditions, whose increase is associated to man-made climate change.