Romania is preparing for the possible shutdown of Cernavoda nuclear power plant’s unit 2 as drought-driven declines in the Danube threaten the reactor’s cooling-water supply.
Operator Nuclearelectrica has started technical preparations for a controlled closure, although the decision will depend on river conditions. Current forecasts indicate that the unit could be disconnected during the morning of 13 August.
Unit 1 is already unavailable. If unit 2 also shuts down, Romania would temporarily have no nuclear generation. The government said contingency plans are in place and that additional output from other domestic plants, combined with higher imports, could replace the lost capacity and maintain system stability.
Danube discharge at Romania’s entry point was about 1,600 cubic meters per second on Sunday and was expected to fall to roughly 1,450 cubic meters per second by the end of the week. Against that background, Nuclearelectrica declared force majeure under its electricity sales contracts, citing severe hydrological drought and insufficient cooling water.
Authorities have carried out emergency work on the river to improve flows toward the plant. Measures have included controlled explosions and preparations for further engineering interventions designed to divert more water into the Old Danube branch and toward Cernavoda’s intake.
The work is intended to prolong unit 2’s operation and simplify a restart if a shutdown becomes unavoidable. Generation would resume once river conditions again permit safe operation.
