Bulgaria Slashes Nuclear Plant Output Amid Critically Low Danube Levels

Bulgaria is set to reduce the capacity of one of its two operational reactors at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant by 120 megawatts. The plant, which supplies over a third of the country's electricity, is facing this unprecedented measure due to critically low water levels in the Danube River, the essential source for cooling its reactors.

The Ministry of Energy in Sofia announced the decision, stating it is crucial to "guarantee the safe operation" of the plant. Hydrological forecasts upstream of the plant indicate a continued downward trend in river levels. This situation marks the first time in the plant's 52-year operational history that extreme weather and hydrological conditions have necessitated such a capacity reduction.

The move could have significant implications for Romania, which currently imports substantial amounts of electricity from Bulgaria to meet its domestic needs. This reliance is exacerbated by lower domestic production, maintenance work at Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, and the ongoing drought affecting the Danube's flow.

A decrease in electricity generation at Kozloduy may limit Bulgaria's export capacity to Romania, potentially driving up prices in the regional electricity market. Romania faces challenges with excess solar energy during peak production times but has limited storage capacity to utilize it during evening hours, making it dependent on imports, particularly from Bulgaria, during those periods. The reduced output from Kozloduy could thus heighten the risk of a larger deficit in the local market.

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guarantee the safe operation