Home ›› 17 Jul 2022 ›› World Biz
High water temperatures threaten to reduce France’s already unusually low nuclear output, piling more pressure on operator EDF (EDF.PA) at a time when half its reactors are offline due to maintenance and corrosion issues.
The valley between the Rhone and Garrone rivers has reached sweltering temperatures in recent days which are expected to hit around 40 degrees Celsius on Friday and remain above seasonal levels through early next week.
That is a problem because river water is often used to cool reactors before being returned at a higher temperature. Reactor production is limited during times of high heat to prevent the hot water re-entering rivers from damaging wildlife.
EDF has announced production restrictions at the Tricastin plant on the Rhone from July 16, the Blayais plant at the mouth of the Garrone from July 17, the Saint Alban plant on the Rhone from July 17, and the Bugey plant on the Rhone from July 19.
An extension of a recent output cut at the Golfech plant on the Garrone is also possible, Refinitiv analyst Nathalie Gerl said, adding data showed restrictions continued for several weeks during a similar powerful heatwave in 2018.
On Friday, French energy regulator ASN announced some modifications at the plants to guarantee a minimum power production level.
EDF has already been forced to cut planned output several times this year because of a host of problems at its reactors - and expects an 18.5 billion euros ($18.6 billion) hit to its 2022 core earnings because of production losses.
The French government is due to announce details of its plan to nationalise the indebted group, in which the state already owns 84per cent, by Tuesday.
The maximum river temperature before restrictions kick in at the Bugey plant is 26 degrees Celsius, while that at the Golfech, Tricastin and St. Alban plants is 28C, and Blayais is 30C.
Current nuclear availability is the lowest for at least four years because of corrosion problems and extended maintenance schedules at half of EDF’s 56 reactors. That means France is importing power at a time it would normally be exporting it and EDF is buying electricity at high market prices, just as Europe is scrambling to find alternative energy supplies to Russia.
