A nuclear power plant in France has been shut down due to "environmental constraints" related to the heatwave.

The nuclear power plant at Golfech, located in the southwest of France, was shut down on Monday evening due to 'environmental constraints' related to the heatwave, according to a spokesperson for the plant. One of the two reactors, each with a capacity of 1.3 GW, was shut down at 11:45 PM to prevent exceeding the limit of 28 degrees Celsius for the waters of the Garonne River, a regulation from 2006 aimed at protecting wildlife and flora.

The first reactor had already been inactive since May for maintenance, so the plant is completely shut down. Nuclear power plants in France, which require constant cooling, are located near water bodies, and the current heatwave has led EDF to consider production cuts at other locations as well. Although shutdowns for environmental reasons have a limited impact on nuclear production, estimates suggest a possible increase in this impact in the future due to climate change.