Romania shuts down Cernavoda nuclear plant as Danube flow hits record lows
Romania has paused operations at its sole nuclear power plant after record-low water levels in the Danube reduced the cooling water available for its reactors. The controlled shutdown began on Thursday at the Cernavoda plant, according to the national nuclear energy company, Nuclearelectrica. The facility's other reactor had already been shut down last month, leaving the plant fully offline.
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The plant usually supplies about a fifth of Romania's electricity, making the outage significant for the country's power system. Romeo Urjan, the plant's director, said he did not expect operations to restart within the next 10 days. The Ministry of Energy said on Wednesday that wind power and electricity imports were expected to cover demand, while also urging responsible consumption.
Officials have already spent more than 2 million euros to try to keep river flow available for cooling. Measures included blowing up a large rock that was restricting water movement and sinking four barges filled with rocks into the river. The ministry also warned that, if needed, large industrial consumers could face restrictions on evening electricity use as a last resort.
The shutdown comes during a severe drought affecting much of Europe, with an analysis by the European climate change observatory Copernicus saying flow rates in nearly two-thirds of the Danube have fallen to their lowest level in more than three decades. That matters because the Danube is not only a transport route but also a critical source of cooling water for energy infrastructure along its banks. Romania's case shows how low river levels can quickly become a power-supply issue, not just an environmental one.
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The Cernavoda plant is one of the country's most strategic energy assets because of its share in national electricity generation. Its temporary closure also highlights the pressure on governments to balance drought conditions, industrial demand and grid stability. Similar concerns have emerged elsewhere along the Danube, including in Hungary, where the only nuclear plant has also faced operational strain from low water levels.
What remains unclear is how quickly river conditions will improve and whether the plant can return to service within the timeframe suggested by its director. It is also not yet clear whether Romania will need to rely more heavily on imports or other backup sources if the drought continues. The next developments to watch are Danube water levels, any further restrictions on industrial users and the timing of the reactor restart.
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