Two Units at Romania's Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant Remain Shut Down Due to Insufficient Water Levels

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 29, Romania's state nuclear power company Nuclearelectrica confirmed that Units 1 and 2 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant remain in a safe shutdown status. Affected by low water levels in the Danube River, the water level in the cooling water intake basin at the nuclear power plant has recently risen by approximately 10 centimeters, but remains below the safety threshold required for the units to resume grid connection. The operator stated that existing hydrological forecasts are not yet sufficient to meet the restart conditions for at least one unit, and both units will remain shut down.

The recent rise in the intake basin water level mainly stems from a localized recovery of the Danube River water level near Cernavoda. According to the operator's monitoring results, the approximately 10-centimeter rise has not been accompanied by a synchronized recovery of water levels across the entire Danube River basin upstream of Cernavoda. Although local water intake conditions have improved compared to previous days, water level changes remain fluctuating, and a sustained upward trend capable of supporting the safe resumption of unit operations has not yet formed.

According to the nuclear power plant's operating requirements, the intake basin water level must not only reach the specified restart threshold but also maintain the required level and show an upward trend for several consecutive days. The operator confirmed that current water levels remain insufficient to support the reconnection of one or both units to the grid, and existing hydrological forecasts cannot confirm that all the above conditions will be met in the near future.

Nuclearelectrica is continuously monitoring Danube River water levels and related hydrological data, and coordinating subsequent operational arrangements with the competent authorities. The company plans to prioritize applying to restore the nuclear power plant's connection to the national power system once water levels and forecast conditions meet the requirements, and to disclose unit status changes in accordance with listed company information disclosure regulations. The operator confirmed that both units currently meet nuclear safety shutdown requirements and pose no risk to nuclear safety, and that the specific restart date has not yet been determined.