[en] Inherently induced safe shutdown of a HTR, e.g. a 300 MWe pebble-bed reactor, protecting the absorber rods. It consists of two partial steps. The first step provides for a transient reduction of coolant supply increasing the average core temperature and resulting in an addition of negative reactivity. There will not be generated power any longer. In the second step the supply of coolant is increased again and the neutron absorber rods are inserted. The transition from power generation to decay heat removal thus reduces the temperature gradient producing thermal stresses in the fuel elements. (DG)