Photo: AFPThe Local · 19 Oct 2016, 12:07Published: 19 Oct 2016 12:07 GMT+02:00France's nuclear safety authority has asked the state-owned power company EDF to shut down five nuclear reactors to carry out safety checks. The watchdog has given EDF three months to check five of France's 58 reactors, which it said were Civaux 1, Fessenheim 1, Gravelines 4, Tricastin 4, and Tricastin 2. The checks were prompted by the discovery of a high level of carbon in steel used in the high-pressure heat exchangers, which can weaken their mechanical properties and ultimately lead to leaks or explosions. EDF has downplayed the risk. The power company has said it aims to get all five reactors up and running again before the start of 2017.

Source: The Local October 19, 2016 10:30 UTC