As the Danube River's water level fell to a record low due to severe drought, Romania's only nuclear power plant, the Cernavodă plant, halted operations entirely. The Romanian government launched emergency measures to secure the water level needed for reactor cooling by dredging the riverbed and releasing water from reservoirs on other rivers.
On the 22nd (local time), according to Reuters and the Romanian government, the National Committee for Special Emergency Situations (CNSU) approved additional measures to raise the Danube's water level and secure cooling water for the Cernavodă plant. The Cernavodă plant has suspended operations due to the Danube's record-low level.
The Cernavodă plant has two reactors of about 700 megawatts (MW) each. Nuclearelectrica, the state-run operator, on the 28th of last month shut down Unit 1 in a controlled manner, citing an unprecedentedly low Danube level caused by severe drought. Then on the 13th, as the river level continued to fall, it also halted Unit 2. The company said the safe shutdown status of both reactors does not affect plant safety or employees, the environment, or residents.
With both reactors stopped, Romania's nuclear power generation has effectively come to a halt. The Cernavodă plant normally accounts for about 20% of Romania's electricity production.
To secure cooling water, the Romanian government decided to intervene directly in the Danube. It will urgently dredge the riverbed around Cernavodă and build an underwater structure in the "Old Danube" channel to divert part of the flow toward the Danube–Black Sea Canal and the plant's cooling water intake.
Water from other rivers will also be brought in. The Ministry of Energy and Hidroelectrica, the state hydropower company, plan to release additional water from reservoirs on the Olt River for five days starting on the 22nd, adding an average flow of 50 ㎥ per second to the Danube. Additional power will be generated through hydropower during the release.
High-capacity pumps will be deployed in case the level does not rise enough. The Ministry of National Defense on the day began a hydrographic survey on the Danube around Cernavodă to assess the riverbed shape and depth. Military divers are also set to support underwater work.
Romania has been under a nationwide "state of alert (stare de alertă)" for 30 days since the 31st of last month to cope with electricity supply disruptions. According to the government's official decision, the measure responds to the heightened risk of instability in the national grid as severe drought has driven flows on the Danube and inland rivers to unprecedented lows and reduced output from nuclear and hydropower. The government ordered the grid to be maintained by expanding available generation sources, importing electricity, and reducing consumption if needed.
Nuclearelectrica plans to decide on the restart timing based on projections for the Danube's level and the plant's safety standards.