Romania shuts second Cernavoda reactor as Danube drought deepens

Romania has initiated a controlled shutdown of the second reactor at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant, as a severe drought continues to push Danube River water levels to record lows. The move comes despite emergency measures, including the blasting of rock and the sinking of barges, aimed at redirecting river flow toward the facility.

The state-owned plant, which typically supplies about 20% of the country's electricity, relies on river water to cool its reactors. Its first reactor was already taken offline in late July due to the same conditions.

Romania's Ministry of Energy said on Wednesday that the country's electricity needs would be "fully covered by alternative sources and imports" following the second shutdown. The government had earlier declared a nationwide state of alert in the energy sector for August.

In a last-ditch effort, Romanian authorities sank four barges loaded with rock near the Danube's Bala Canal, after military engineers blasted the riverbed with explosives. The intention was to create an underwater barrier that would push water toward the plant's intake. However, water levels ultimately fell below the threshold required to keep the reactor operational.