Romania completely shuts down Cernavoda nuclear plant due to low water levels

Romania has completely shut down its only nuclear power plant, Cernavoda, as critically low water levels in the Danube River prevent adequate cooling. The Romanian Ministry of Energy announced that the second reactor has also been taken offline, following the shutdown of the first unit in late July. The Cernavoda plant, located in the eastern part of the country, normally supplies 20% of Romania's electricity needs and relies entirely on the Danube for its cooling water.

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The plant completely shuts down the nuclear power plant Cernavoda due to low water.

Cristian Busoi, a state secretary in the Ministry of Energy, stated that power supply to major industrial consumers might be restricted under a recently enacted government ordinance. However, he assured that the shutdowns would not affect the general population. Romania has reportedly been in talks with neighboring Ukraine and Bulgaria to secure electricity imports.

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The plant normally produces 20 percent of the Romanian electricity demand.

In an attempt to mitigate the situation, Romania recently undertook an operation to increase water flow to Cernavoda. This involved detonating a rock in the Danube approximately 50 kilometers upstream, near the village of Izvoarele, to channel more water into the arm supplying the plant. Additionally, debris was sunk near the riverbank elsewhere to better manage water flow. Defense Minister Radu Miruta explained that this operation had slightly raised the water level at Cernavoda, allowing the second reactor's operation to be extended by a few days, but it was insufficient for the plant's long-term water needs.

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Worst-case scenario, the electricity supply for large industrial consumers will be restricted.

The Cernavoda plant consists of two reactors of the Canadian CANDU type, with the first coming online in 1996 and the second in 2007. Together, they produce approximately 10 million megawatt-hours of electricity annually. The current shutdown highlights the vulnerability of energy infrastructure to environmental conditions like drought.

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This operation was not enough for the long-term supply of the nuclear power plant with water.