The French Saint-Laurent nuclear site, showing two CP2, 900 MWe class reactors and the cooling tower on the right. Wikipedia

Mega blackout imminent? France shuts down half its nuclear reactors

France is an important factor in Europe's energy supply. But the country is planning on shutting down more than half of its nuclear reactors. The reason given is that they supposedly need maintenance.

Published: August 11, 2022, 11:49 am

    Paris

    The energy exporter is going to have to access energy from abroad. But that can turn out to be more difficult than planned with the European energy crisis expanding. Is a mega blackout looming?

    Some 56 nuclear reactors at 18 locations normally supply France with electricity. But 18 of these reactors are already shut down. Long-term maintenance work is to be carried out. That had been planned for a long time, authorities said. But then France also had to shut down 12 more reactors last week.

    Damage caused by corrosion is said to be the reason for this. The supply in Europe’s power grid seems all the more uncertain in winter.

    In many places, the European power grid is dependent on the energy security of the neighboring country. If a country fails over a large area, other states are drawn into the blackout. France has been an important factor in European energy supply in recent years. But the Grande Nation itself may have to switch to energy imports.

    Consider donating to support our work

    Help us to produce more articles like this. FreeWestMedia is depending on donations from our readers to keep going. With your help, we expose the mainstream fake news agenda.

    Keep ​your language polite​. Readers from many different countries visit and contribute to Free West Media and we must therefore obey the rules in​,​ for example​, ​Germany. Illegal content will be deleted.

    If you have been approved to post comments without preview from FWM, you are responsible for violation​s​ of​ any​ law. This means that FWM may be forced to cooperate with authorities in a possible crime investigation.

    If your comments are subject to preview ​by FWM, please be patient. We continually review comments but depending on the time of day it can take up to several hours before your comment is reviewed.

    We reserve the right to del​ete​ comments that are offensive, contain slander or foul language, or are irrelevant to the discussion.

    No comments.

    By submitting a comment you grant Free West Media a perpetual license to reproduce your words and name/web site in attribution. Inappropriate and irrelevant comments will be removed at an admin’s discretion. Your email is used for verification purposes only, it will never be shared.

    Europe

    Postponed Budapest Summit: Warnings of Assassination Attempt

    The planned summit, announced on October 16, 2025, following a phone call between the two leaders, has been indefinitely postponed.

    Hungary Accuses Brussels, Kiev of Plotting Regime Change

    Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is making serious accusations against the EU and Ukrainian leadership.

    Storm in a Teacup: Denmark’s Drone Alarm

    It wasn't a Russian drone attack after all

    French Furious: European Fighter Jet Project Stalling

    A highly ambitious European cooperation project is threatening to fail

    Dutch, Hungarian Proposals to Ban Antifa

    Political leaders in the Netherlands and Hungary are supporting proposals to label Antifa a terrorist organization

    British Comedian Arrested for Jokes About Transgenders

    Graham Linehan, the Irish comedian and creator of several TV hits, was arrested on September 2 at Heathrow Airport upon returning from a trip abroad.

    Orban: ‘Russia Has Won’

    Orbán has now leveled serious accusations against the EU

    Palantir is coming

    ... to monitor 'hate crimes'?

    ‘Trump Eats Europe for Breakfast’

    The fact is that Europe has caved in across the board in the tariff negotiations with the US, and US President Donald Trump is emerging as the resounding victor.

    Brussels Scores an Own Goal

     The EU actually wanted to make life difficult for the European right.

    Go to archive