France is the icon of nuclear power electrical generation. The last coal fired generation plant in Saint Avold halted coal burning earlier this year, but due to energy shortages imposed by Putin's War on Ukraine the plant fired its furnaces to keep heat and electricity on this winter. France joins Czech Republic resorting to coal burning for heat and energy. Nearly half of France's nuclear power facilities are off-line for maintenance and repair. The French government was forced to issue to issue a decree allowing Saint Avold and another plant in western France to continue to burn coal. President Macron had stated he would close all coal burning plants by the end of the year.
Coal burning is not only disastrous for reducing global warming, but is also a human health hazard that releases particulates, mercury, and nitrogen oxides. Czechoslovakia had catastrophic air pollution at the end of the communist era. The decline of manufacturing and mining, along with improved pollution standards imposed by the EU have greatly improved air quality. Czech Republic has large coal deposits that make coal cheaper than natural gas. So many citizens opt for burning coal in their homes. A 2021 study ranked the regional capital of Ostrava as one of the ten most polluted cities in Europe. Some 50,000 old furnaces that emit toxic fumes, must be replaced in the Ostrava region, and even more in neighboring Poland. The Czech government has reversed plans to cease mining coal in the region due to enormous demand. Fifty percent of Czech electricity is produced by coal generation plants.
Coal burning power plants only account for about 3% of France's electricity mix. Sixty percent comes from nuclear facilities. Government declares the resort to coal is only temporary, and has called upon the France people to reduce their energy consumption by ten percent to avoid rationing and rolling blackouts.