Danube River's Declining Levels Threaten Cernavodă Nuclear Plant Operations

Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, a key energy source for the country, is facing significant operational challenges due to critically low water levels in the Danube River. Forecasts predict a continued decline in the river's flow until at least August 7, raising concerns about the plant's ability to maintain operations, particularly for Reactor 2.

According to Sorin Rîndașu, deputy general director of the National Administration "Apele Române" (Romanian Waters), the current Danube flow at the entry point into Romania is 1,590 cubic meters per second, with an expected decrease to around 1,450 cubic meters per second by August 7. This reduction translates to a drop of approximately 2-3 centimeters per day in the water level at Cernavodă. Rîndașu estimates that the plant can operate under these conditions for only about 4-5 more days at the limit.

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we can only confirm that at the moment, 1,590 m3 per second is being registered, with a downward trend until August 7 when around 1,450 m3 will be registered. What does this mean for Cernavodă? It means a decrease of about 2-3 cm per day. Under these conditions, Cernavodă can resist for about 4-5 days at the limit.

To mitigate the situation and avoid a critical shutdown, authorities have initiated operations on the Old Danube (Dunărea Veche) to increase water flow downstream towards Cernavodă. These interventions include placing special barges in the Bala arm area to redistribute water between the river's two branches and conducting dredging work on the Old Danube. "In these conditions, it is quite difficult to say that everything is safe, there are risks, but everything humanly possible is being done to keep the Nuclear Power Plant operational," Rîndașu stated.

The situation at Cernavodă is compounded by similar issues faced by other nuclear power plants in the region. Hungary has already shut down three out of its four reactors, and Bulgaria is reporting operational problems at its Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant. The efforts to maintain Cernavodă's functionality are crucial, especially given its significant contribution to Romania's energy supply amidst these regional challenges.

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In these conditions, it is quite difficult to say that everything is safe, there are risks, but everything humanly possible is being done to keep the Nuclear Power Plant operational, which currently makes an important contribution, especially in conditions where in Hungary, out of four groups, three have already been shut down and Bulgaria is also reporting problems with the operation of the nuclear power plant in Kozloduy.