The crisis began last Sunday evening when the filters of the pumping stations were filled with an “unexpected” swarm of jellyfish, leading to the automatic shutdown of reactors 2, 3, and 4 before midnight, followed by reactor 6 on Monday morning, according to Western media. The other two units were already shut down, resulting in the complete closure of the plant.
The “Gravelines” plant is located in northern France between the cities of Dunkirk and Calais and is the largest in Western Europe, with a production capacity of up to 900 megawatts per reactor. The plant plans to add two new reactors with a capacity of 1600 megawatts each by 2040.
The beaches near the plant have witnessed a noticeable increase in the number of jellyfish in recent years, attributed to rising water temperatures and the spread of invasive species. Derek Wright, a marine biology consultant at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, explained that the increase in North Sea water temperature extends the breeding period of jellyfish, increasing their numbers.
Wright added that these species prefer calm waters rich in plankton, such as ports, making them a threat to nuclear power plants, as previously occurred in China, Japan, and India. He raised concerns about thermal pollution, which could exacerbate this problem. “EDF” did not issue an immediate comment on the incident.
