India Environment Portal Knowledge for change

About us Contact us
downtoearth-subscribe

Browse by subjects

N plants acting up

  • 14/09/2003

With temperatures in Europe at an all-time high, German nuclear plants have become too hot to handle. The soaring mercury has forced authorities to switch off the reactor at one plant and reduce the capacity of two others.

Obrigheim, the country's oldest nuclear power plant, has had its reactor deactivated due to the inability of water from Neckar river to cool it off. The units at Philippsburg and Neckarwestheim are functioning at 20 per cent less capacity for the same reason.

Thanks to the sweltering heat, the ghosts of the country's inglorious past are also returning to haunt it. While the lowered water level of Constance lake has exposed wartime bombs, the receding waters of Edersee lake have uncovered traces of submerged villages.

Related Content