Drought Shuts Down Romania's Nuclear Power Plant

Romania has shut down its only remaining operational nuclear reactor after record-low water levels in the Danube made it impossible to continue cooling the plant, forcing the country to rely on alternative sources of electricity.

State-owned operator Nuclearelectrica disconnected the reactor at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant from the grid on Thursday. The station's second reactor had already been taken offline at the end of July for the same reason.

Cernavoda's two 706-megawatt reactors normally generate about one-fifth of Romania's electricity. The government has declared an energy emergency for the entire month of August and is urging households and businesses to reduce electricity consumption during evening peak hours.

To offset the shortfall, authorities have restarted a 330-megawatt lignite-fired power plant and plan to increase electricity generation from wind and hydroelectric facilities where water levels permit. If necessary, industrial consumers could also face phased supply restrictions.

The government has taken a series of emergency measures to keep the plant operating, including dredging parts of the Danube, blasting rock obstructions, and diverting river flows to improve water supply. Romania can also import up to 4,000 megawatts of electricity through its cross-border transmission network.

(Reuters, bak)