Romania Shuts Down Only Nuclear Plant as Danube River Levels Plummet

Romania has shut down its only nuclear power station, the Cernavoda plant, due to extremely low water levels in the Danube River caused by prolonged hot weather. The facility, which typically generates about one fifth of Romania's electricity, is not expected to restart within the next 10 days. One of the two reactors had already been shut down in July, and the second was disconnected on Thursday. To mitigate the power shortfall, Romania is procuring alternative energy from wind power and imports, while appealing to the public to consume electricity responsibly. Some industrial users, including carmakers Ford and Dacia, have committed to pausing production to save power.

Neighboring Hungary is taking aggressive measures to prevent a similar total shutdown of its Paks nuclear power plant. Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced the construction of a low weir to permanently raise the Danube's water level. As an immediate measure, authorities plan to sink two 80 meter long barges to create a damming effect. Currently, only one of the four reactors at Paks is operational.

Both reports highlight that the Danube is the sole source of cooling water for these plants. The low water levels are part of a broader European heatwave. The BBC reports that the Danube has reached its lowest levels in 30 years in several countries and notes that the Rhine is also suffering. This extreme weather has led to wildfires in Greece, France, and the UK, as well as significant agricultural losses in Italy and France. The BBC attributes these trends to climate change, noting that Europe is the fastest warming continent.