France powers down nuclear reactors over heatwave

France's main energy provider said on Sunday that three nuclear reactors had been temporarily shut down and eight others were operating at reduced power, due to the heatwave sweeping the country.



The measure is an environmental protection requirement to avoid discharging too much hot water into rivers already warming from the heatwave.



Power plants critical to the country's electricity production use river water to cool their reactors, which heats the water that is then released back into the river.



The economy ministry on Saturday issued an exemption to the temperature limits for the heating of the Rhone around the Bugey plant "to ensure the security of the power grid", valid until July 20.



The shutdowns are the second time in recent weeks that EDF has had to stop nuclear reactors due to extreme heat, after a record-breaking heatwave hit France in June.