Electricité de France (EDF), the primary electricity provider in France, has announced it will temporarily halt operations at two nuclear reactors—Bugey 3 on the Rhône and Golfech 2 on the Garonne—due to record-high temperatures caused by a recent heatwave.This decision follows similar shutdowns in June 2026 when extreme weather forced EDF to reduce reactor output to prevent river overheating.

The company plans to reconnect these reactors to the grid on July 17, 2026, after the Bastille Day holiday weekend, which is expected to lower national electricity demand by several gigawatts daily.Additionally, a power reduction is scheduled for Saint-Alban 2 reactor on the Rhône River this Thursday as part of environmental safeguards.EDF has also announced infrastructure upgrades at Golfech and Chooz plants to adapt to climate change impacts.

The measures highlight growing challenges for nuclear energy operators in balancing electricity production with ecological preservation during extreme weather events.Regulatory bodies have endorsed these actions, emphasizing the need for grid flexibility amid rising temperatures.This incident underscores the increasing vulnerability of nuclear facilities to climate-related disruptions.