France to Shut Down its Oldest Nuclear Complex Fessenheim Power Plant by June 2020

France to Shut Down its Oldest Nuclear Complex Fessenheim Power Plant by June 2020

• The 2X920 MW Fessenheim Nuclear Power Plant is the oldest operational nuclear power plant in France.
• French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has announced that the entire complex will come to a halt on June 30, 2020.
• The Unit 1 of the plant will close on 22nd February 2020 while the Unit 2 on 30th June 2020.
• The plan to shut down the plant has been taken to balance nuclear produced energy and electricity with increased generation from renewable sources.
• The government has planned to close the coal-based plants by 2022 to reduce greenhouse gases.
• Currently, France receives more than 70% of its electricity from nuclear power; the new plan would cap the amount of electricity from nuclear power at 50% by 2035.