Cooling-water risk and preparations for unit 2
Romania is preparing for a possible shutdown of Cernavoda nuclear power plant unit 2 after drought-driven declines in the Danube threatened the reactor’s cooling-water supply. Operator Nuclearelectrica has started technical preparations for a controlled closure, with the timing dependent on river conditions. Current forecasts indicate the unit could be disconnected during the morning of 13 August.
Unit 1 is already unavailable. If unit 2 also shuts down, Romania would temporarily have no nuclear generation. The government said contingency plans are in place to manage the loss of capacity.
System contingency measures and contract force majeure
The government stated that additional output from other domestic plants, combined with higher imports, could replace lost capacity and maintain system stability. In parallel, Nuclearelectrica declared force majeure under its electricity sales contracts. The declaration cited severe hydrological drought and insufficient cooling water.
Danube discharge at Romania’s entry point was about 1,600 cubic meters per second on Sunday. It was expected to fall to roughly 1,450 cubic meters per second by the end of the week. Against that background, Nuclearelectrica’s force majeure decision was linked to cooling-water constraints.
Emergency river works to support intake conditions
Authorities carried out emergency work on the river to improve flows toward the plant. Measures included controlled explosions and preparations for further engineering interventions. The interventions are designed to divert more water into the Old Danube branch and toward Cernavoda’s intake.
The work is intended to prolong unit 2’s operation and simplify a restart if a shutdown becomes unavoidable. Generation would resume once river conditions again permit safe operation.
