Low Water Levels Force Shutdown of Romania’s Only Nuclear Plant

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Bucharest: Romania has initiated the complete, controlled shutdown of its only nuclear power plant as record-low water levels in the Danube River left insufficient water to cool the site.

Procedures to take Unit 2 offline at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant began on Thursday, August 13, following the shutdown of its first reactor last month. The facility usually supplies approximately one-fifth of the Eastern European nation's total electricity.

Before finalizing the total halt of both 700MW reactors, Romania spent over two million euros ($2.3 million) on emergency engineering measures. These efforts included blowing up a rock and sinking four rock-filled barges to divert river currents.

To manage the lost generation, the energy ministry announced that electricity needs will be covered through wind power and imports, alongside an appeal for responsible public consumption.

This is the plant’s first complete closure since a severe drought in 2003. The current crisis stems from severe heatwaves and rainfall shortages exacerbated by human-induced climate change, which pushed Danube flow rates to 34-year record lows across nearly two-thirds of the river.