Closure of Nuclear Power Plant in France Due to Medusa

• Four reactors of the nuclear power plant in France were closed due to medusa.
• The company EDF stated that the safety of the plant is not under threat.
• It is expected that the reactors will resume operation by Thursday.

Four reactors at one of the largest nuclear power plants in France were forced to shut down due to the accumulation of medusa in cooling systems. This was reported by the energy company Electricite de France (EDF).

The automatic shutdown of three reactors occurred on Sunday evening, and the fourth reactor was stopped on Monday morning. EDF noted that the safety of the plant, its workers, and the surrounding environment was not under threat.

The company explained that the shutdown was a consequence of the unexpected large quantity of medusa in the cooling water of the plant's systems. The power plant is located in northern France and is cooled by water from a canal that connects to the Northern Sea.

Currently, teams are conducting checks for the safe resumption of the plant's operations, and it is expected that the reactors will be able to resume work by Thursday.

In nearby waters near Gravelines, between the towns of Dunkirk and Calais, there has been an increase in the quantity of medusa in recent years, which is associated with rising water temperatures and the emergence of invasive species.

Scientists are investigating methods of preventing nuclear power plant shutdowns due to medusa accumulation, including using drones for monitoring their movements.

It is also noted that medusa reproduce more quickly at elevated water temperatures, and they can also migrate into new waters through tankers.

Although EDF does not know what type of medusa caused the shutdown, such incidents are not new. The last occurrences of medusa impact on EDF operations took place in the 1990s.

Other nuclear power plants in the world have also experienced shutdowns due to medusa, including in Sweden in 2013 and in Japan in 1999.

Experts emphasize that overfishing, plastic pollution, and climate change create conditions for the spread of medusa.

EDF stated that the shutdowns are not due to a lack of electricity, as other energy sources, including solar, continue to operate.

Tags: Europe/Energy