Mystery flights: The nuclear power plant in Cattenom, eastern France, is one of seven overflown by drones of unknown origin. Photo: AFP
Paris: France has launched an investigation into
unidentified drones that have been spotted over nuclear plants operated
by state-owned utility EDF.
Seven nuclear plants across the country were flown over by
drones between October 5 and October 20, an EDF spokeswoman said,
without any impact on the plants' safety or functioning.
"There's a judicial investigation under way, measures are
being taken to know what these drones are and neutralise them," Interior
Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told France Info radio on Thursday, without
specifying the measures.
The drone sightings may renew concerns about the safety of
nuclear plants in France, the world's most nuclear-reliant country with
58 reactors on 19 sites operated by EDF.
Greenpeace supporters forced their way into the Fessenheim
plant on the German border earlier this year and have a history of
breaking into nuclear plants in France.
Greenpeace denied any involvement in the pilotless flight activity.
"For all its actions, Greenpeace always acts openly and claim
responsibility," Yannick Rousselet, head of Greenpeace's anti-nuclear
campaign, said. "What is happening is very worrying," he said, adding
that France's nuclear research institute CEA near Paris had also been
flown over, citing unspecified sources.
The unmanned aircraft were spotted late in the evening, at
night or very early in the morning, EDF said. Flying less than 1000
metres above nuclear plants and within a 5 kilometre radius is
prohibited in France.
EDF named the plants over which drones had been spotted as
Creys-Malville and Bugey in the southeast, Blayais in the southwest,
Cattenom and Chooz in the northeast, Gravelines in the north and
Nogent-sur-Seine, the closest plant to Paris.
Each plant has filed a formal complaint with the police against the anonymous people behind the drone flights.
Reuters
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