Romania has been forced to take its second nuclear reactor offline at the Cernavodă power station, a rare move prompted by the Danube's falling water levels amid a severe drought that has gripped much of Europe. The plant, which normally supplies about a fifth of Romania's electricity, had already shut down one of its two 700-megawatt reactors in July. On Thursday, the operator Nuclearelectrica announced that the second unit would also be halted due to the "significant and ongoing drop" in the river's flow.
This is only the second time in the plant's history that a drought has caused a complete shutdown; the previous occasion was in 2003. The plant's director, Romeo Urjan, told AFP that a restart is unlikely within the next ten days. The Danube, Europe's second-longest river, serves as the cooling water source for the reactors, and its record-low levels have made continued operation impossible.
Emergency measures to divert the river
Romanian authorities had been trying to avert a full shutdown, spending over €2 million on measures to improve water flow near the plant. These included controlled underwater explosions to remove submerged rocks and sinking four barges filled with stones to raise the water level. The Romanian Navy carried out the demolition work in early August, as seen in images released by the energy ministry.
Despite these efforts, the water level continued to drop. The energy ministry said on Wednesday that alternative sources, including wind power and electricity imports, should be sufficient to meet demand. However, it also reiterated an appeal for "responsible consumption" and warned that, as a last resort, large industrial users could face restrictions during evening peak hours. Earlier this month, the government announced that carmakers Dacia and Ford would pause production until 19 August to help ease the power deficit.
Record-low flows across the Danube
The scale of the problem is stark: according to an analysis published Monday by the Copernicus climate change observatory, nearly two-thirds of the Danube's length has seen flow rates that are the lowest on record for July in 34 years. The current drought has been exacerbated by human-induced climate change, according to a report from the World Weather Attribution group, which warns that such conditions are likely to become more frequent.
Neighbouring Hungary has so far avoided a complete shutdown of its Paks nuclear plant, which also relies on Danube water for cooling. However, with river levels expected to fall further, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said on Wednesday that the government has ordered the construction of a submerged weir to help control water flow near the facility. Two 80-metre barges are also being positioned at Paks, ready to be sunk if needed to raise the water level. Paks, which typically covers around a third of Hungary's electricity needs, has been partially shut down since late last month.
The low water levels have also severely disrupted shipping along the Danube's 2,850-kilometre route, which stretches from western Germany to the Black Sea. The receding waters have even exposed historical relics, adding a sombre note to the crisis.
The situation highlights the growing vulnerability of Europe's energy infrastructure to climate change. Repeated heatwaves across Western Europe have already strained water resources and health systems, and this drought is testing the resilience of nuclear power, which depends on abundant cooling water. The EU's 2030 water strategy aims to improve efficiency, but the immediate challenge is to keep the lights on.
As the Danube continues to drop, both Romania and Hungary are bracing for further disruptions. The coming days will be critical for the region's power supply and for the millions of people who depend on the river for transport, agriculture, and daily life.
