Energy giant EDF halted reactors at the Gravelines plant near Dunkirk after cooling pumps were clogged by a massive influx of marine life
1-MIN READ1-MIN ListenAgence France-PressePublished: 8:51pm, 11 Aug 2026A nuclear plant in northern France shut down three reactors after a swarm of jellyfish clogged pumps used to cool the units, energy group EDF said on Tuesday.Three reactors were taken offline on Monday and output at a fourth was cut by half, EDF said in a statement, leaving just one operating at full capacity.
A sixth reactor was already offline for scheduled maintenance.
“This situation has no impact on the safety of the facilities, the safety of personnel, or the environment,” EDF said.
France has seen nuclear power production disrupted by multiple heatwaves and droughts this year, with EDF shutting down several reactors in June and July because of extreme heat.
On Sunday – before the latest closures – France recorded a shortfall of 15.6 per cent in nuclear power production, according to Agence France-Presse calculations based on EDF data published since 2015.
