Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on August 12, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleFrance's Bugey 3 reactor will reduce power by 500 MW on Wednesday due to high river temperatures, impacting nuclear energy production amid a heatwave.
PARIS (Reuters) -Power production at France's Bugey 3 nuclear reactor in the east of the country is expected to be reduced by 500 megawatts (MW) on Wednesday, data from operator EDF showed on Tuesday, as high river temperatures reduce the plant's ability to intake cooling water.
A heatwave throughout France has led to multiple warnings of power reductions at a number of nuclear plants, particularly on the Rhone river in the east and the Garonne in the west.
The Bugey 3 reactor has a maximum capacity of 910 MW, which will be reduced to 410 MW from 2:30 p.m. (1230 GMT) to midnight on Wednesday as the reactor is required to meet environmental safety measures, EDF's data showed.
The high water temperature warnings for the Saint Alban plant - down river of the Bugey site - and the Golfech site in the west were moved to August 14, but restrictions have not yet been issued.
Average temperatures in the country are expected to continue to peak throughout the week, reaching a high of 28.5 degrees Celsius (83.3°F) on Saturday, LSEG data showed.
Nuclear power accounts for about 70% of total French power consumption annually, but August is the main holiday season throughout the country and electricity demand is often limited.
(Reporting by Forrest Crellin; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
Nuclear energy is the energy released during nuclear fission or fusion, especially when used to generate electricity. It is a significant source of power in many countries.
A heatwave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity. It can impact various sectors, including energy production.
Power production reduction refers to the decrease in the amount of electricity generated by a power plant, often due to external factors like temperature or demand.
Nuclear power plays a crucial role in energy consumption by providing a stable and significant source of electricity, accounting for a large percentage of total energy use in some countries.
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