France Shuts Three Nuclear Reactors During Heatwave

France has temporarily shut down three nuclear reactors and may reduce output at seven additional units because a heatwave has raised river temperatures near power plants. The shutdowns stem from environmental rules that limit how much warm water the plants can release into rivers to protect aquatic life.

Officials said the measures are precautionary and unrelated to any technical or safety issues at the facilities. A company statement indicated that no nuclear safety risk exists and that normal operations are expected to resume within days once cooler weather returns.

French regulations set temperature thresholds for river water downstream of nuclear sites. When those thresholds are approached or exceeded, operators must reduce or halt discharge to stay within permitted limits. The current heatwave has pushed several rivers close to those caps, prompting the output adjustments at multiple sites.