Danube at Record-Low Levels, Romania Risks Losing Cernavodă’s Last Active Reactor

Record-low water levels in the Danube have deepened Romania’s energy crisis. Nuclearelectrica, the state-owned nuclear power producer, has begun procedures to disconnect the only reactor still operating at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant from the grid.

The company operates two reactors on the banks of the Danube, each with a capacity of 706 megawatts. Together, they account for approximately one-fifth of Romania’s total electricity generation.

The effects of the drought and the significant decline in the Danube’s flow have already affected the plant’s operations. Nuclearelectrica shut down one of the reactors at the end of July, and the second unit now faces the same risk.

Because of the situation, the Romanian authorities have declared an energy emergency for the entire month of August. Households and businesses have been urged to voluntarily reduce their energy use, especially during evening hours when demand peaks.

To ease the production shortfall, Romania’s Energy Ministry announced the activation of a 330-megawatt lignite-fired power plant. At the same time, efforts are being made to increase wind and hydroelectric power generation, depending on the water reserves available in reservoirs.

If external supplies are needed, Romania can purchase electricity from other European countries. According to the authorities, the national grid offers around 4,000 megawatts of cross-border capacity.

If the crisis worsens further, the government has also drawn up an emergency plan providing for the gradual restriction of electricity supplies to industrial consumers.

Before the situation reached this point, the Romanian authorities had used unusual measures in an effort to keep the reactor operating. These included blasting a rock barrier, dredging the Danube riverbed and sinking boats loaded with stones to direct the flow of water toward the area near the plant.

Romania’s energy difficulties come after large parts of Europe endured weeks of extreme temperatures, drought and major wildfires. These unusual weather conditions have placed additional pressure on energy systems, river navigation and critical infrastructure in several European countries.

The continued decline in the Danube’s water level has become a direct threat to Romania’s energy security, as it puts one of the country’s main sources of electricity generation at risk.