France’s state-owned energy provider on Sunday has temporarily called off operations of three nuclear reactor locations, as heatwave continues.
In an effort to combat the scorching heatwave in Europe, France’s Électricité de France (EDF) has been taking safety measures in its nuclear reactors.
The shutdown of three reactors was announced as an environmental precaution to avoid releasing too much hot water in the rivers, while eight reactors are continuing operations in reduced capacity.
According to the EDF, the decision was “due to the weather conditions and to comply with regulations on (cooling water) discharges, and thus to protect the environment”, according to the Agence France Press.
The closed plants were located in Golfech, Bugey and Chooz, to help the rivers of Garonne, Rhone and Meuse, which are already heating up from the heatwave.
Meanwhile, France’s Agency for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ASNR) also temporarily reduced its thermal discharge limits for the Buže Nuclear Power Plant.
ASNR noted that the reduction was made to continue providing electricity despite running on less energy.
The plant will be discharging water that has a temperature higher than one degree of the difference between the upstream and downstream points of the facility.
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Heatwave hitting Europe
Europe has been in literal hot water since the late-June heatwave that caught the continent off guard.
According to data provided by mortality monitoring network EuroMOMO – supported by the World Health Organisation and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control – approximately 10,000 excess deaths were recorded from June 22 to 28.
The older population aged 65 years and above were harmed by the heat the most, as more than 9,000 deaths were recorded in their demographic.
EuroMOMO’s Chief Physician at Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut Lasse Vestergaard linked the unusually high mortality with the extreme heat.
“To have this kind of excess at this time of year is unusual. It’s really high.
“It is difficult to explain this high excess mortality by anything but the extreme heat”, said Vestergaard, as quoted by Reuters.
Older adults, who are the most vulnerable in this phenomena, are being warned to take safety measures amid the heatwave.
Extreme heat can cause heat stroke and amplify cardiovascular and respiratory issues.
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Wendellyn Mateo 
Carmela Calling 
Maybelene Marcelino