Romania's Cernavoda Nuclear Plant to Shut Down Due to Low Danube Water Levels

Romania's sole nuclear power plant, Cernavoda, is preparing to shut down operations within the next two days due to critically low water levels in the Danube River. The plant requires a sufficient water flow for cooling and operational processes, which are now severely compromised by the ongoing drought.

Officials from the Romanian water authority have deemed the shutdown "unavoidable," estimating that it will last for a minimum of two weeks. Sorin Rândažu, the deputy director-general of the authority, stated that even recent dredging efforts on the Danube would not alter the necessity of the shutdown. This prolonged interruption is expected to significantly impact the national energy supply.

The situation is further compounded by reduced output from hydropower facilities, which are also dependent on adequate river levels. This dual impact on nuclear and hydropower generation is intensifying an existing energy crisis within Romania. The country faces a challenging period as it navigates the consequences of the drought on its energy infrastructure.

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The shutdown is unavoidable, and new Danube dredging will not change anything.