An automatic shutdown of reactor 2 of the Fessenheim nuclear power plant occurred this Friday morning, four days before the final shutdown of the Alsatian plant, EDF announced, indicating that it is working on restarting it.
“An automatic shutdown of production unit n ° 2 has occurred (…). The teams at the plant apply the procedures laid down and carry out the diagnosis of the causes of this automatic shutdown”, indicates Transport network of electricity (RTE) on its website.
The Alsatian commune was shaken by thunderstorms this Friday morning but according to the communication from the central, it was too early at midday to establish a link of cause and effect. “The site is preparing to initiate restart operations to meet the needs of the network,” continues the RTE press release. The website mentions the date of June 27 for the end of the reactor unavailability. “Plumes of non-radioactive vapor may be visible above the plant,” specifies RTE.
A violent thunderstorm has just hit #Fessenheim and lightning appears to have struck the nuclear power plant. She finds herself stopped 4 days before the final end. As if she wanted to choose for herself the moment of her last breath …
– Dominique Schelcher (@schelcher) June 26, 2020
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Reactor n ° 1 shut down on February 22, 2020
“The network needs us, we do everything to restart. When we have an automatic shutdown, we start the diagnosis and we restart as soon as we can”, we explained to the central, while the second and last reactor in operation of the oldest nuclear power plant in France must be disconnected from the network overnight from Monday to Tuesday.
Reactor 1 was shut down on February 22, 2020.
Anti-nuclear activists, long-time committed to the closure of this power station, which has become a political issue, immediately commented on this shutdown.
“Who will still dare to pretend that it is safe? Besides, is it reasonable to restart it?” wondered about his Twitter account André Hatz, the president of the Stop Fessenheim association, mocking a “bedridden” power plant.
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