Romania uses controlled blast to divert Danube water to nuclear reactor amid drought crisis

Romanian naval forces have carried out a controlled explosion on the Danube to help redirect cooling water towards the country's remaining working reactor at the Cernavodă nuclear plant. The operation took place as record-low river levels continued to disrupt power generation in Romania and neighbouring Hungary. Authorities said the measure was intended to keep the reactor operating during an acute water shortage linked to drought and heat.

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The blast used 180kg of explosives, according to a report cited in the supplied material, to move a large rock that was restricting the flow of water. Officials said the action would allow a temporary dam to be built so more water could be channelled into the reactor's cooling system. Romania's defence minister, Radu Miruță, said on Monday that every extra day the plant remained in operation was valuable, describing the cost of the intervention as justified by the electricity it could produce.

Romania has declared a nationwide state of emergency for August after low Danube levels reduced electricity production and forced the shutdown at Cernavodă. The plant is the country's last working nuclear reactor, making the disruption especially significant for domestic supply. In Hungary, the only atomic power station, Paks, has also reduced output because it relies on Danube water for cooling.

The plant normally generates almost half of Hungary's electricity, but it is now operating at less than half capacity. The incident highlights how prolonged heat and drought are affecting energy systems that depend on river water for cooling. The Danube is a critical waterway for power generation, transport and water supply across central and south-eastern Europe, so falling levels have wider implications beyond Romania.

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With both countries' sole nuclear plants under strain, they are increasingly relying on expensive electricity imports to cover demand. That adds pressure at a time when heatwave conditions are already pushing consumption higher. The situation also reflects the vulnerability of older nuclear infrastructure to changing weather conditions.

Paks is a 44-year-old Soviet-era plant, and the supplied material says authorities had earlier warned it might need to shut down as early as Sunday before later extending its reduced operation. In Romania, the emergency response shows how far officials are prepared to go to preserve output from Cernavodă, including using explosives to alter the riverbed. The operation underlines the practical limits of energy systems built around stable water availability.

What remains unclear is how long the Danube levels will stay low and whether the temporary measures will be enough to keep output steady at either plant. Authorities in both countries are still managing reduced generation, and the risk of further disruption remains if drought conditions continue. The next developments to watch are any further changes to reactor output, the duration of Romania's emergency measures and whether Hungary's Paks plant can avoid a full shutdown.

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