France’s largest energy company, EDF (Électricité de France), has shut down two nuclear reactors as a precautionary measure amid record-breaking heatwaves.
“Elchi” reports that this was stated by “Channel News Asia,” citing EDF.
According to the company, the reactors in question are at the Nogent-sur-Seine nuclear power plant (NPP) on the Seine River in northern France, and the Bugey NPP on the Rhône River near Lyon in the southeast of the country.
The decision was made to protect the environment and prevent the discharge of overheated water into rivers, where temperatures are already high due to anomalous heat.
“The power plants, which play a vital role in the country’s energy supply, use river water to cool the reactors, after which the water is returned in an already heated state,” the statement said.
It should be recalled that a few days ago, the Nogent-sur-Seine NPP reduced electricity production in one of its reactors to limit the rise in temperature of the water returned to the Seine, thereby reducing the impact on the aquatic ecosystem.