Fessenheim Nuclear Power Plant, Decommissioned nuclear power plant in Fessenheim, France
Fessenheim is a decommissioned nuclear power plant with two pressurized water reactors near the Rhine, roughly 15 kilometers northeast of Mulhouse. The facility spreads across a large fenced site where dismantling and safety work are currently underway.
The plant began commercial operation in 1977 as the first nuclear facility in Alsace. After more than 40 years generating electricity, it was permanently shut down in 2020 following a government decision.
The closure in 2020 directly affected the community of roughly 2,500 residents, prompting many former employees to seek work elsewhere in the energy sector. Today, locals often discuss the site's transformation and their hopes for new economic opportunities in the area.
The dismantling process is expected to last roughly 18 years, with the first three devoted to fuel removal and the following 15 to complete deconstruction. The site remains closed to the public but is continuously monitored for safety reasons.
The plant sits in a seismic zone above one of Europe's largest groundwater tables, which fueled safety debates during its operating years. Despite repeated inspections, the geological setting remained a contested topic until shutdown.
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