LOC19:31
16:31 GMT
PARIS, Feb 22 (KUNA) -- France began shutting down on Saturday its oldest nuclear power plant in Fessenheim area, after 43 years of operation.
Electricite de France (EDF), a French energy company, said in a statement that it had suspended one of two reactors at the plant, while the second reactor will be shut down in June.
EDF added that reactors may take several months before they cool down enough, then the fuel used can begin to be removed, noting that this removal is expected to be done by 2023.
The station will be completely out of service by at least 2040, it indicated.
Accordingly, the program's first step intends to disconnect 14 out of 58 nuclear reactors in France by 2035.
French government aims to reduce the share of nuclear energy in France's electricity production from 70 percent in 2018 to 50 percent in 2035, with an increase of renewable energy sources. (end)
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