Record-low Danube River exposes climate risk to nuclear power plants

The Cernavoda plant usually generates a fifth of Romania’s electricity.

Romania had tried to avert a total shutdown of the plant, which usually generates a fifth of the country's electricity.

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.

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

Romania has begun a controlled shutdown of the second reactor at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant

Romania has begun a controlled shutdown of the second reactor at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant

Nearly two-thirds of the Danube, the river whose water is used to cool the plants, has recorded flow rates that are the lowest on record for a month of July.

Nearly two-thirds of the Danube, the river whose water is used to cool the plants, has recorded flow rates that are the lowest on record for a month of July.

Romania to shut down nuclear plant due to low Danube  euractiv.com

Hungary’s government plans interventions on Danube River to keep nuclear plant running  AP News

Police suspect cardiac arrest; the 51-year-old’s body has been sent for autopsy

11 August 2026 Romania’s Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant has initiated the technical procedures preceding the controlled shutdown of its second nuclear reactor, the so-called Unit 2, due to the very low flow of the Danube. The river water was essential for the cooling of the pumps used by the plant. The shutdown of Unit