Romania's Cernavoda Nuclear Plant Halts Operations Amid Historic Drought on Danube River

The Cernavoda nuclear power plant, which accounts for 20 percent of Romania's electricity production, completely halted operations on the 13th local time due to a shortage of cooling water caused by a drought.

According to Reuters and other sources, Nuclearelectrica, Romania's state-owned nuclear power company, announced that it has initiated the process of disconnecting its only remaining operational reactor from the power grid.

One of the two reactors at the Cernavoda plant had already been shut down on June 28 due to a lack of cooling water resulting from the drought.

With the remaining reactor also halting operations on this day, the nuclear plant has come to a complete standstill.

In a statement released on this day, the Romanian Ministry of Energy stated, "The national power grid has about 4,000 megawatts of cross-border transmission capacity to prepare for electricity imports," adding that it is cooperating with power grid operators across Europe.

Authorities projected that over a two-day period, the flow rate of the Danube River in the Romanian region would remain at an all-time low of approximately 1,350 cubic meters per second.

Romania has been struggling to secure cooling water for the nuclear plant by blasting rock in the Danube River and sinking barges.

Romania has declared a state of emergency for energy for the month of August and requested voluntary power conservation from businesses and households.

Plans have also been prepared to gradually reduce industrial power supplies if necessary.

The country plans to operate coal-fired power plants, which have been used as reserve power until now, and expand hydroelectric power as well.

Across Europe, nations are suffering from severe droughts this year.

Analyzing data from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, AFP reported that as of last month, the Rhine River in Germany recorded historic lows in 85 percent of its entire stretch, the Thames River in Great Britain in 95 percent, and the Danube River, which passes through 10 European countries, in two-thirds of its sections.

AFP noted that drought was observed across 95 percent of mainland France and 99 percent of Switzerland last month, while droughts in Hungary, Slovenia, and Austria were also the most severe on record as of July.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.