Romania to Shut Down Last Nuclear Reactor as Danube Hits Record Lows

Romania may be forced to take its final functioning nuclear reactor offline next week as a severe drought drains the Danube River to critical levels. The country’s nuclear operator announced that Unit 2 of the Cernavoda power plant could be shut down as early as August 13. Unit 1 has already been offline since July 28 due to the same water shortage. The Danube, which provides cooling water for the plant, has dropped too low for safe operation. Without sufficient river flow, the reactors cannot maintain the necessary temperature controls. Cernavoda is Romania’s only nuclear power station and supplies roughly a fifth of the nation’s electricity. If Unit 2 also stops, the country will face a significant power gap during peak summer demand. Officials say they are monitoring the river levels daily and will make a final decision based on weather forecasts. No exact restart date has been given. The drought has affected much of Eastern Europe this summer, with several countries reporting record-low river levels and crop damage.