Low Danube water levels force shutdown of Cernavodă nuclear reactor in Romania

28 July 2026 Romania's state-owned nuclear power producer Nuclearelectrica announced that it will carry out a controlled shutdown of Unit 1 at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant on Tuesday, July 28, after the Danube River reached an unprecedented low level due to severe drought. Authorities said the measure is preventive and will not affect nuclear safety or the electricity supply. Nuclearelectrica said Unit 1 will be disconnected from the national energy system on the morning of July 28 in line with operating procedures for severe drought conditions and following the latest forecasts issued by the National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management. “Unit 1 will be shut down in a controlled manner due to the very low, unprecedented water level of the Danube caused by severe drought, in ac