French power giant Electricite de France SA has warned that it is likely to extend cutbacks to its nuclear power generation due to scorching weather conditions, which push up river temperatures and make it harder to cool reactors.
This could exacerbate the situation in Europe which is facing its worst energy crunch in decades as a result of Russia's retaliatory gas cuts.
According to the French utility, power stations on the Rhone and Garonne rivers will likely produce less electricity over the next few days, but there will be a minimum output to keep things running smoothly.
Heatwaves are raising river temperatures, which makes it difficult for EDF, which often uses river water to cool reactors.
France and Germany are already at record levels for power prices, and the output reductions are likely to make them even higher.
The state-controlled French power company is reportedly also making another cut in planned nuclear output because maintenance work will take more of its reactors offline.
The company said it was scaling back its projections for 2023 from the earlier 340–370 terawatt hours (TWh) to 300-330 TWh.
Britain is by no means able to escape the effects of Russian gas supplies being cut to the continent, with UK natural gas prices rising from under 190p per therm at the start of July to above 370p.