Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant to Remain Shut Down Until at Least September 18 Due to Low Danube Water Levels

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 8, Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant was expected to remain shut down until at least September 18 due to critically low water levels in the Danube River.

Emil Macovei, Technical Director of Nuclearelectrica, the operator of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, stated that over the next 10 days, the Danube's water volume would still be insufficient to support the restart of either of the plant's two units. Romania's Antena 3 television channel quoted him as saying that current hydrological conditions do not yet meet the operational requirements of the units.

Cristian Bușoi, Secretary of State at Romania's Ministry of Energy, said that predictions regarding the plant's restart timeline were "rather optimistic," and the ministry was currently unable to provide an exact date for resuming operations. He confirmed that, despite ongoing riverbed dredging operations in the Danube section near the plant, the facility would remain shut down for another 10 days.

The Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, located in Constanța County in southeastern Romania, is the country's only operational nuclear power plant. Due to declining Danube water levels caused by drought, both reactors at the plant have been completely shut down to prevent damage to the cooling systems.

The plant currently operates two units built using Canadian CANDU technology, generating approximately 20% of Romania's total national electricity output. Amid the ongoing drought, Romania has declared a state of emergency, and the government has taken measures to significantly reduce energy consumption by businesses, institutions, and the public.