As Europe prepares for an energy crisis with  and the war in Ukraine continues, France is relying on its nuclear network to avoid electricity shortages and the use of fossil fuels. The Cattenom plant, located 10 km from the border with Luxembourg, is no exception. As a result, maintenance work is ongoing there with the goal being to have three nuclear reactors operational for the winter.

The site had an eventful first half of the year, as all four reactors were simultaneously shut down for several days, marking the

Three reactors in operation before the end of the year

Since 8 July, reactor number 2 has been operating again. Shut down on 25 June for maintenance on a ventilation system with an insufficient flow rate, it is the only one operating for the moment.

The other three reactors should gradually return to service by the end of the year and possible even by autumn.

Reactor number 1 has been undergoing partial maintenance as part of an annual visit since 12 June, but the Cattenom power station estimates that it will again be operational “around mid-September”.

Reactor number 4, shut down since 19 February, is also undergoing partial check as part of its annual maintenance programme. However, this has been extended as the reactor is 

Finally, reactor number 3, which has been shut down since mid-March, is also undergoing checks. “We should not expect a return to the network before October,” explains French energy company EDF, which operates the plant. “The challenge, with three reactors shut down for the moment, is to be ready for the winter. By carrying out this maintenance work, the aim is to be operational when we are most needed and to meet the needs of the electricity network this winter in the current energy context,” says the nuclear power station's communications department.

The power station faces up to the heatwave

The recent heat waves have not had any impact on the activity at Cattenom, even though certain arrangements have been made in terms of using water to cool the site. “The plant has no cooling problems related to the heat of the last few days. Nor do any of the French nuclear power plants,” states EDF.

The site uses water from the Moselle for its cooling. This is governed by a "discharge decree" depending on the river's flow and temperature. “Regarding the Cattenom nuclear power plant, which uses water from the Moselle, during low-water periods when the flow is less than 18.5m three per second, the discharge order stipulates that we must limit its use. In this case, we use the water stock that belongs to us, which is the artificial lake of Mirgenbach. This is what we are doing at the moment.”

The only consequence to the Mirgenbach lake being used is that the authorities have suspended recreational activities on this particular body of water. "This is the only impact. We preventively closed access to the water reservoir, which is primarily used for industrial purposes,” says the communication department of the nuclear power station.

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.