Romania begins shutdown of nuclear plant’s 2nd reactor amid low water levels on Danube River

Romania on Thursday began a controlled shutdown of the second reactor at its Cernavoda nuclear power plant as a severe drought continues to grip the continent.

Romania on Thursday began a controlled shutdown of the second reactor at its Cernavoda nuclear power plant as a severe drought continues to grip the continent.

Scorching heat and low rainfall in recent weeks have left the Danube River at record lows and forced the state-owned Cernavoda plant to shut down its first reactor in late July. The plant accounts for about 20% of the country’s electricity generation when fully operational and uses river water to cool its two reactors.

“The decision to carry out a controlled shutdown of Unit 2 was determined by the continued significant decrease in the level of the Danube River,” the plant operator Nuclearelectrica said in a statement Thursday addressed to the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

Romania’s Ministry of Energy said in a statement Wednesday that estimates show the European Union member’s electricity supply would be “fully covered by alternative sources and imports” after a shutdown of the second reactor.

After acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced a nationwide state of alert in the energy sector on Jul. 31 for August, efforts by the Romanian authorities to avert a shutdown of Cernavoda’s second reactor have been unprecedented.