Engineers have turned to extraordinary measures on the Danube as drought threatens the cooling water needed by a key nuclear facility.
Romania will continue operating the second reactor at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant for at least another nine days after blasting operations on the Danube caused the river’s water level to rise by 4 cm, as reported by Bloomberg News.
Romania will continue operating the second reactor at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant for at least nine more days after blasting operations on the Danube caused the river’s water level to rise by 4 cm. This situation demonstrates the country’s readiness to keep the plant’s second unit running.
The first measurement was taken this morning after the barges were sunk in the Danube and some underwater obstacles were cleared: after the water level fell by 3 cm yesterday, it rose by 4 cm in Cernavodă over the past 24 hours
– Radu Miruță
Current Situation and Water Levels on the Lower Danube
It was reported that last week Romania took unprecedented measures to increase the flow of water to its only nuclear power plant by blasting a rock formation and sinking barges to alter the course of the Danube and ensure sufficient water for cooling the reactors.
Based on the current forecast, this will allow us to keep the second unit operating for at least another nine days
– Radu Miruță
Romania declared an energy-sector emergency throughout August because of the drought and record-low water levels in the Danube, which also affected electricity generation in neighboring Hungary.
On August 2, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar warned that the country’s only nuclear power plant, Paks, could be shut down.
On August 3, a controlled explosion was carried out in a branch of the Danube, the Bala River, and on August 5, four barges loaded with rock were sunk to increase the flow of water into the main channel and reduce risks to the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant.
In this context, the region’s water regime requires continuous monitoring and coordination among the countries along the Lower Danube to ensure the safety and stable operation of energy infrastructure.
As part of our joint efforts, it is important to monitor changes in the water regime and adjust our actions according to the needs of both countries in order to avoid disruptions to electricity supplies and ensure safety along the entire Lower Danube.