France’s intensifying heatwave has forced EDF, the country’s main energy provider, to temporarily shut down three nuclear reactors and reduce output at eight others, as soaring temperatures push river systems and infrastructure to their limits.
EDF said reactors at Golfech, Bugey and Chooz all located along major rivers used for cooling were shut down “to comply with regulations on cooling‑water discharges” and to protect already‑overheated waterways. Nuclear plants rely on river water to cool reactors, but the process warms the water before it is released back into the river. During extreme heat, environmental rules restrict how much additional heat plants can add.
The economy ministry issued a temporary exemption for the Rhone near the Bugey plant to safeguard grid stability, valid until July 20. Even so, EDF has now been forced to reduce operations for the second time in recent weeks, after a record heatwave in June triggered similar shutdowns.
More than a third of France was under the national weather service’s highest heat alert on Sunday, with 25 million people enduring temperatures that could reach 41°C. The heat has already led to early closures at tourist sites, event cancellations, and a shortened stage of the Tour de France.
Wildfires have multiplied, and drowning deaths have risen as people seek relief in rivers and lakes. Since late May, France has faced repeated extreme‑heat episodes, causing excess mortality and exposing infrastructure vulnerabilities. Scientists link the increasing frequency and severity of such heatwaves to human‑driven climate change.
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