The Romanian government has been plunged into an energy crisis after authorities confirmed the complete shutdown of the Cernavodă nuclear power plant, as the severe European heatwave pushes the Danube river to a historic low. The closure of the facility, which typically provides a fifth of the nation’s power, marks a dramatic escalation in the region’s struggle against climate-induced water scarcity.
Shutdown confirmed as river hits record low
The plant’s director, Romeo Urjan, announced that the second reactor would be taken offline in the early hours of August 13. The decision comes as water levels in the Danube have fallen so drastically that the facility can no longer operate safely.
About midday we will be completely disconnected from the national energy system, Urjan stated. He confirmed that the river, which serves as the primary cooling source for the plant, has reached a new historical minimum.
The move follows the earlier disconnection of the first reactor, prompting the government in Bucharest to declare a state of heightened alert within the national energy sector.
Desperate measures fail to save the flow
The Romanian authorities had made frantic attempts in early August to prevent the total stoppage. In a series of increasingly desperate interventions, military engineers detonated an underwater rock formation in an attempt to redirect flow into the channel feeding the station.
When that failed to yield sufficient results, four barges loaded with stones were deliberately sunk in the river. The aim was to create a makeshift dam to force water towards the plant’s intake. Ultimately, the falling water levels rendered these efforts futile.
Regional energy security under threat
The closure is sending shockwaves through the region’s fragile energy grid. With domestic production crippled, Romanian companies have already begun importing electricity from neighbouring Ukraine to fill the deficit.
The situation is particularly acute in Moldova, which relies on Romania for over 70 per cent of its electricity supply following the cessation of imports from the breakaway region of Transnistria. To avoid rolling blackouts during the current 37-degree heat, authorities in Chișinău are being forced to implement emergency conservation measures, including urging citizens and businesses to significantly curb their use of air conditioning.
