GRavelines, 12 Aug. (askanews) – An anomalous and rare incident caused the total blockage of the Gravelines nuclear power plant in the north of France. To cause the stop was the “massive presence” of jellyfish in the water pumping stations used to cool the reactors. The production units 2, 3, 4 and 6 of the plant, the largest in Western Europe, automatically blocked on Monday, the other two production units, 1 and 5, were already stopped for maintenance.
As can be seen from the images, several thousand jellyfish entered the port of Dunkerque, Where the plant pumps the cooling water, and filtration systems have to obstruct. “There is no risk of current interruption” for the electricity grid because of this accident, they know by Électricité de France SA (EDF), the largest manufacturer and energy distribution in France.
The massive presence of jellyfish would be due to the increase in the temperature of the sea and the scarcity of fish, natural antagonists of these sea jelly.
Similar cases have already occurred in the United States, Scotland, Sweden and Japan, The French plant has automatic locking systems in case of algae or jellyfish that clog the pumps. The restart of the plant will be done in the next few days.
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