Key facts
- Romania shut down its sole operating nuclear reactor at the Cernavodă plant due to record low Danube River levels.
- The shutdown is expected to impact power supplies in neighboring Moldova.
- Nuclearelectrica stated a restart is not anticipated within the next 10 days.
- Romania is activating a 330-MW coal-fired plant and increasing reliance on wind and hydro power to compensate.
- Similar challenges are affecting Hungary's Paks nuclear plant and France's nuclear fleet.
Romania has shut down the last operating reactor at its sole nuclear power plant in Cernavodă due to record low water levels in the Danube River, a consequence of a severe drought and prolonged hot weather affecting much of Europe. The shutdown of Unit 2, which typically generates around 700 megawatts and accounts for about 20% of Romania's electricity output, is expected to immediately affect power supplies in neighboring Moldova, which relies on Romanian imports for up to 60% of its electricity needs.
Nuclearelectrica stated that a restart of the reactor is not anticipated within the next 10 days, as the Danube's water level continues to drop significantly. The first reactor at the plant had already been shut down in late July. To compensate for the shortfall, Romania is activating a 330-megawatt lignite-fired power plant and plans to increase reliance on wind generation and imports, though hydropower generation has also been reduced by low reservoir levels. Carmakers Dacia and Ford will pause production in Romania until August 19 to help alleviate the power deficit.
Similar challenges are being faced by other European nations. Hungary's Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced measures to try to control Danube flows near its Paks nuclear plant, which usually provides about a third of the country's electricity and has been partially shut down. France, Europe's largest nuclear power producer, has also experienced a significant reduction in output due to low river levels impacting cooling capabilities for its reactors. The drought has also severely affected shipping along the Danube and the agricultural sector across Europe.
Analysis from the European climate change observatory Copernicus indicates that nearly two-thirds of the Danube has seen flow rates drop to the lowest on record for July in 34 years. Scientists warn that the drought in Europe, exacerbated by human-induced climate change, will likely worsen.