Danube dip threatens Cernavoda reactor despite emergency measures
Romania's Cernavoda nuclear plant faces a cooling water crisis as Danube levels are forecast to keep falling, despite emergency dredging and dike construction.
Romania's water management agency has warned that Danube river levels around the Cernavoda nuclear power plant will continue to drop this week, casting doubt on emergency efforts to keep the facility's sole operating reactor running.
The warning comes after a summer of extreme heat across Europe, which has pushed the Danube to record lows. The low water levels had already forced the shutdown of one of Cernavoda's two reactors, which together normally supply about a fifth of Romania's electricity. The remaining reactor is now at risk.
To protect it, authorities have taken urgent steps to redirect the river's flow. This has included blasting a rock obstruction, dredging the riverbed, and sinking four rock-filled barges to form a dike that channels water towards the plant's cooling intake.
These measures provided a temporary boost, lifting water levels around the reactor by four centimetres on Sunday. The energy ministry said this would allow the reactor to operate for another nine days.
However, the reprieve may be short-lived. The water management agency said on Monday that updated forecasts show rain upstream will not be enough to help Romania, which is the last country the Danube passes through before reaching the Black Sea. The river level at Romania's entry point is expected to remain at an all-time low for the next week, with levels around the plant falling until at least August 16.
The agency has recommended continued dredging in access areas to maintain water flow towards the plant. In response, the government has allocated additional funds to the transport ministry for further dredging work on the river branch where the reactor is located.
Romania has already declared a state of energy emergency for August and has asked households and businesses to voluntarily cut consumption during peak evening hours. The country's electricity mix includes gas, coal, hydro, nuclear, and renewables, but it faces significant investment needs to modernise its ageing infrastructure and improve grid resilience.