Bulgarian authorities are preparing additional measures to protect generation at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant as exceptionally low Danube levels increase concern over cooling-water availability.
Kozloduy has continued operating according to its planned production schedule, but technical teams are examining options to secure adequate water supplies should river levels decline further.
Attention is focused particularly on the plant’s riverside pumping station. Specialists are assessing ways to improve pump performance and reinforce associated hydraulic infrastructure so that sufficient water can continue to reach the site under more difficult hydrological conditions.
Cooling arrangements for the operating reactor units and spent-fuel storage are also being monitored. Plant personnel are considering preventive measures that could be activated should existing water-supply arrangements become insufficient.
The Bulgarian Energy Ministry has established a dedicated task force to coordinate the institutions involved and provide support to Kozloduy’s technical teams. Additional contingency measures are being prepared in advance, allowing them to be implemented more rapidly should conditions on the Danube deteriorate.
The issue has implications beyond Bulgaria because Kozloduy is the country’s largest electricity producer and one of southeast Europe’s most important sources of nuclear baseload generation.
Any material reduction in output would affect Bulgaria’s domestic balance while potentially reducing electricity available for export to neighbouring systems. Bulgaria has remained a significant regional exporter during 2026, making the availability of Kozloduy particularly important during periods of elevated summer consumption.
Authorities are consequently discussing the hydrological situation with neighbouring countries and European institutions.
The immediate issue remains operational rather than a confirmed loss of production: the plant is maintaining its scheduled generation. But the preparation of additional safeguards demonstrates the growing intersection between hydrological conditions and assets traditionally regarded as firm thermal or nuclear capacity.
Low river levels can affect hydroelectric production directly, but sustained drought can also constrain power stations dependent on rivers for cooling. That increases the system value of water availability across several different generation technologies and makes prolonged low-Danube conditions a regional electricity-market variable rather than solely a Bulgarian operational issue.
