The Saint-Alban Nuclear Power Plant in Isère has temporarily shut down reactor number 2 due to unusually low water levels in the Rhône River. During the night of September 16 to 17, the river's flow was measured at just 250 cubic meters per second, significantly below the normal range of 1,000 to 1,400 cubic meters per second. This drop in flow has raised concerns about the environmental impact of the plant's operations. Nuclear power plants use large amounts of water for cooling, and when they discharge this water back into the river, it can raise the temperature of the downstream section. Regulations require that the temperature increase downstream does not exceed 3 degrees Celsius compared to the upstream section. To comply with these rules, the plant has decided to shut down reactor 2 for nine days, until September 26, although this timeframe could change depending on weather conditions. This is not the first time the plant has had to adjust its operations due to low river flow. Earlier this summer, the plant had already reduced its electricity production on several occasions, and it briefly shut down a reactor for a few days around August 9. According to Nicolas Delecroix, the site director, the current situation does not pose any safety or technical risks. He explained that while reduced river flow is a regular occurrence each year, this year the levels have been unusually low, leading to earlier and more significant heating of the river than usual. Despite the shutdown of reactor 2, the electricity supply in France remains stable. Delecroix noted that current electricity demand is not high, and the country has sufficient energy reserves. In fact, France is currently a major exporter of electricity, meaning that the nation is producing more power than it needs at this time. The Saint-Alban plant is one of several nuclear facilities in the region, and while this temporary shutdown affects its output, it does not threaten the overall reliability of the national power grid.