Barges to be Sunk in Danube to Aid Cernavodă Nuclear Plant Water Supply

Romania is set to scuttle four barges in the Danube River on Thursday, August 6, in an effort to redirect more water towards the Cernavodă nuclear power plant. This operation, initially planned for Wednesday afternoon, was postponed by one day due to unfavorable conditions.

The Danube has reached its minimum predicted water level of 1,400 cubic meters per second earlier than anticipated, intensifying concerns about its impact on hydroelectric power generation and navigation. The national energy system is facing challenges due to this significant drop in the river's flow.

State Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Ionel Scrioșteanu, announced the rescheduling of the controlled scuttling of the four barges. The intervention is part of the authorities' strategy to boost the water flow in the section supplying the power plant. The postponement was a safety measure, as specialists determined that the intensity of the currents in the Bala arm area did not permit optimal execution of the work.

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Amânarea a fost decisă din motive de siguranță, după ce specialiștii au constatat că intensitatea curenților din zona brațului Bala nu permite desfășurarea în condiții optime a lucrărilor.

The project involves using barges loaded with stones to create an artificial barrier, thereby facilitating the transfer of a larger volume of water to the Old Danube. The precise timing of the operation will be determined by the National Administration 'Romanian Waters' based on the evolving hydrological conditions. Concurrently, efforts to optimize water circulation continue on the Old Danube, including dredging operations.

These measures aim to rebalance the water flow distribution between the two arms of the river and ensure a sufficient water supply for the normal operation of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant. Specialists emphasize the critical importance of the barges' exact placement for the project's effectiveness and are continuously monitoring the impact on water quality during the interventions.

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Demersurile urmăresc reechilibrarea distribuției debitului între cele două brațe ale fluviului și asigurarea unui aport suficient de apă pentru funcționarea în condiții normale a Centralei Nuclear-Electrice de la Cernavodă.