Romania has begun shutting down its only nuclear power plant. Low water levels in the Danube River forced the move. The river supplies cooling water for the facility. Nuclearelectrica, the national nuclear energy company, confirmed the decision on Thursday.
The company had already closed one of the two reactors at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant last month. The plant normally generates about one-fifth of Romania’s electricity. On the morning of 13 August 2026, Nuclearelectrica started the controlled shutdown of Unit 2 as well.
The ongoing drop in Danube water levels made the second reactor’s operation impossible. Romania had tried for days to avoid a full shutdown of the two 700-megawatt reactors. Authorities attempted to keep water flowing by blasting rock and sinking four barges filled with stones into the river. These emergency measures were expected to cost more than €2 million.
This is the first complete shutdown of the Cernavoda plant since a drought in 2003. At that time, the facility remained offline for several weeks.
Romania’s Energy Ministry said wind power and electricity imports will help cover the shortfall. The ministry also repeated its call for responsible energy use.
The shutdown occurs during intense heatwaves and prolonged dry weather across Europe. These conditions have pushed Danube water levels to extreme lows. Nearly two-thirds of the river recorded its lowest July flow rates in 34 years of measurements, according to the European Union’s Copernicus climate observatory.
Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group noted that human-caused climate change has intensified the drought. They warned that similar conditions are likely to become more frequent.
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