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Heatwave hits German nuclear plants
BERLIN (AFP) Aug 08, 2003
 Rising water temperatures due to the heatwave affecting much of Europe have forced German authorities to close a nuclear power station and reduce capacity at a further two, officials said.

The environment ministry in the southwest state of Baden Wuerttemberg said it had asked operators at Obrigheim, Germany's oldest nuclear power plant, to switch off the reactor.

This was because water temperatures in the Neckar river, which is used to cool the reactors, had risen to 26 degrees Celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit).

The plant's operator agreed to bring forward scheduled maintenance which was due to start on August 17.

Two nearby plants, at Philippsburg and Neckarwestheim, are running at 80 percent capacity for the same reason.

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