BUCHAREST — Romania has shut down its only nuclear power plant after record-low water levels in the Danube left the Cernavoda facility without sufficient river flow for its cooling system, taking both of the country's nuclear reactors offline, state-owned operator Nuclearelectrica said.
The shutdown of the plant's second and final operating reactor began on Thursday, following the controlled closure of Unit 1 in late July as severe drought pushed Danube levels toward historic lows. The two reactors, each with an installed capacity of about 700 megawatts, normally account for roughly one-fifth of Romania's electricity production.
Nuclearelectrica said the shutdown was carried out under procedures designed to maintain nuclear safety when water levels approach operating limits. The company has said keeping the reactors in a safe shutdown state does not pose a risk to nuclear safety, personnel or the environment.
Romanian authorities had attempted to keep the second reactor operating as river levels deteriorated. Measures included dredging, redirecting water toward the plant's intake and placing barges in the river to improve water flow. Those efforts ultimately failed to prevent the shutdown.
The government declared an energy alert for August and has urged households and businesses to reduce electricity consumption, particularly during periods of peak demand. Authorities have also increased reliance on other generation sources and electricity imports to compensate for the loss of nuclear output. Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said on Friday that available assessments indicated no immediate risk to the country's electricity supply.
The shutdown comes as an intense heatwave and prolonged drought affect large parts of Europe. Low Danube flows have also disrupted electricity production at Hungary's Paks nuclear plant, which relies on the river for cooling.
Cernavoda's director, Romeo Urjan, said on Aug. 13 that he did not expect the plant to resume operations within the following 10 days, according to AFP. The timing of a restart will depend on river conditions and the plant's operating and safety requirements.
As of Aug. 15, both Cernavoda reactors remain offline while authorities monitor Danube levels and manage the resulting reduction in domestic nuclear generation.
