Romania Shuts Down Sole Nuclear Power Plant as Danube River Hits Record Lows

Romania has completely shut down its only nuclear power plant, the Cernavoda facility, after record low water levels in the Danube River left the plant unable to supply its cooling pumps. The second and final operating reactor was shut down in a controlled manner on Thursday morning. This follows the shutdown of the plant's first reactor on July 28. The Cernavoda plant typically generates about a fifth of Romania's electricity, and the loss of the second unit removes approximately 680 to 700 megawatts of production capacity. The plant's director stated that he does not expect operations to restart within the next 10 days, while other reports suggest it may be at least two weeks.

To prevent the total shutdown, the Romanian government spent over 2 million euros on emergency measures. These efforts included blowing up a large rock and sinking four barges filled with rocks to divert the river's flow. Despite these actions, the water level reached 182 centimeters, falling below the required 185 centimeter threshold. The Romanian Energy Ministry stated that the national grid remains stable. The government plans to bridge the energy shortfall through electricity imports, wind power, coal, and hydropower. Officials have warned that large industrial consumers may face evening restrictions as a last resort.

The drought affecting the Danube is a broader regional issue. In neighboring Hungary, the Paks nuclear plant has been partially shut down, and the government has ordered the construction of a submerged wall and the use of barges to maintain water levels. Center left sources frame the event as part of a larger European climate crisis, noting that flow rates in nearly two thirds of the Danube have hit their lowest levels in over three decades. Center sources focus more on the immediate energy security implications and the technical details of the grid's stability.