- Greenpeace activists protested at the Gravelines nuclear power plant, raising awareness about marine submersion risks from rising sea levels.
- The group opposed the installation of new EPR2 reactors, arguing that the proposed 11-meter-high platforms do not adequately address flooding concerns.
- EDF defended the project, stating that safety measures align with the IPCC’s extreme flood predictions amid ongoing public debate over the reactors’ environmental impact.
On Monday October 28, Greenpeace activists protested at the Gravelines nuclear power plant in northern France, raising concerns about marine submersion risks. Arriving in two boats via the plant’s discharge canal, they displayed banners reading “Rising seas, nuclear underwater” and used smoke grenades to symbolise rising water levels. The group also flew kites shaped like jellyfish, enhancing the visual impact of their message.
The activists aimed to highlight the Gravelines site’s vulnerability to future flooding. Greenpeace opposes the installation of new EPR2 reactors at the site, which will have a capacity of 1,600 MW each. These reactors will sit on an 11-meter-high platform to protect against extreme flooding. However, Greenpeace argues that this height does not sufficiently address the long-term risks of rising sea levels due to climate change.
A recent report by Greenpeace, published in early October, suggests that the Gravelines plant could sit below sea level by 2100 during high tides and extreme weather events. The report warns that current and future reactors could face temporary flooding, increasing risks to the environment and nearby communities. According to the NGO, these risks are not adequately addressed in the proposed safety measures for the new reactors.
Around ten activists landed on the plant’s northern dike during the protest. Security forces quickly apprehended them. Other activists who remained outside the site also faced detention. The local prefecture confirmed that the protesters did not manage to enter the plant’s buildings and stayed in the vicinity, particularly near the water discharge area.
EDF, the operator of the Gravelines plant, defended the safety measures for the future EPR2 reactors. The company stated that the platform’s height was calculated based on extreme flood scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). EDF assured that the plant’s design and infrastructure meet the highest standards to mitigate risks from rising sea levels and extreme weather.
The EPR2 reactor project at Gravelines began a public debate in mid-September. Experts, associations, and local representatives discussed the safety and environmental impact of the proposed reactors. Greenpeace’s protest draws attention to the potential dangers of the project in a region already vulnerable to flooding.
The demonstration also comes amid growing criticism of risk management in France’s nuclear sector. Greenpeace, alongside other environmental groups, raises concerns about the social and ecological acceptability of the new reactors. The debate over the future of nuclear power in France continues to intensify as the country seeks to balance energy needs with environmental protection in the face of climate change.