Severe Drought Forces Shutdown of Romania’s Sole Nuclear Plant as Danube Levels Plummet

Romania has paused operations at its sole nuclear plant due to record-low water levels in the Danube River, which provides essential cooling water for its reactors. The country’s national nuclear energy company, Nuclearelectrica, announced on Thursday that it would begin a controlled shutdown of the second reactor at the Cernavoda plant, following the closure of the facility’s other reactor last month.

This shutdown unfolds as a severe drought grips large parts of Europe, driving flow rates in nearly two-thirds of the Danube to their lowest levels in over three decades, according to an analysis by the European climate change observatory Copernicus. Romeo Urjan, the director of the Cernavoda plant, informed the AFP news agency that he does not anticipate the facility will restart operations within the next 10 days.

Prior to the complete closure, Romania attempted to avert a shutdown of the plant, which typically generates a fifth of the nation's electricity. Authorities budgeted more than 2 million euros ($2.3m) to divert the Danube’s flow and maintain reactor cooling, measures that included blasting a large rock restricting water flow and sinking four rock-filled barges into the river.

The Ministry of Energy stated on Wednesday that alternative power sources, such as wind power and electricity imports, are expected to maintain adequate supplies. However, the ministry also reiterated an appeal for responsible consumption, warning that large industrial consumers could face restrictions during evening hours as a last resort to conserve electricity.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Hungary has managed to avoid a complete shutdown of its only nuclear plant in Paks, which also relies on the Danube for cooling its four reactors. With river depths projected to drop further, Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar stated on Wednesday that the government ordered the construction of a submerged wall, or weir, to regulate flows near the facility, alongside positioning two 80-metre barges that can be sunk to raise water levels. The Paks plant, which covers about a third of Hungary’s electricity needs, has faced partial shutdowns since late last month. Additionally, the depleted levels of the Danube—Europe’s second-longest river—have severely impacted shipping along its entire 2,850km (1,770-mile) route from western Germany to the Black Sea.