Romania shuts its last nuclear reactor as drought-hit Danube river drops to record low

Cernavoda shutdown poses immediate problems for Moldova, which relies on Romanian power ​to cover its own electricity shortages Romania has been forced to shut down the last working ⁠reactor at its only nuclear plant after drought caused the Danube river to fall to record lows – a rare move that will immediately affect

This is only the second time in three decades that the country's sole nuclear power plant, which supplies nearly 20% of electricity for Romania's 19 million residents, has been shut down.

This is only the second time in three decades that the country's sole nuclear power plant, which supplies nearly 20% of electricity for Romania's 19 million residents, has been shut down.

The plant is not expected to restart for at least 10 days, while Romania plans to rely on alternative power sources and imports.

Romania has shut down its only nuclear plant in a rare move prompted by the lack of cooling water from the Danube River. Hungary, meanwhile, is racing to dam the Danube, trying to keep its Paks plant online.

Romania's Nuclearelectrica starts shutting down sole working nuclear reactor over drought  Reuters

The Cernavodă plant, which produces 20% of Romania's electricity, is not expected to be restarted within the next 10 days.

Romania shut down its only nuclear plant on Thursday, in a rare move due to drought that has caused the Danube river, whose waters cool the plant, to fall to record lows.Romania shuts nuclear plant as Danube dropsMuch of Europe is facing a new summer heatwave amid a drought that has driven rivers to historic lows.The C

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 move deepens an energy crunch gripping parts of Europe after weeks of extreme heat.

Nearly two-thirds of the Danube has seen flow rates that are the lowest on record for a month of July in 34 years, according to an analysis published on Monday by the European climate change observatory, Copernicus.

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.

Record low water levels in the River Danube force temporary shutdown of Romania’s last operating nuclear reactor, obliging the country to import more electricity.

In response to alarming low levels of the Danube river, Romania's energy sector is on high alert. Unit one of the Cernavoda nuclear power facility has ceased operations due to water scarcity. To maintain unit two's functionality, emergency measures including river dredging have been implemented. Authorities have also u

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

13 August 2026 Romania’s nuclear group Nuclearelectrica (BVB: SNN) announced that, on the morning of August 13, 2026, it began procedures for the controlled shutdown of Unit 2 at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant. The shutdown procedure of Unit 2 at Cernavodă began at 8:00 AM, according to data consulted by Economica.n

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

The massive Gravelines nuclear power plant just 30 miles from Britain has been forced to close down in order to avoid disaster after a swarm of jellyfish got sucked into the cooling system on Monday