Romania’s Nuclear Plant Shuts as Danube Drops to 30‑Year Low

Sun Sep 06 2026 09:24:18 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Romania has forced its only nuclear power station offline after historic low water in the Danube forced cooling failures, sparking an energy and climate crisis.

Romania shut down both reactors at the Cernavodă plant after prolonged heatwaves pushed the Danube River to its lowest level in three decades. The two 706‑MW reactors normally supply roughly 20% of the country’s electricity, and their loss will force imports and extend reliance on fossil fuel generation. Local officials attempted to boost river flow by sinking barges filled with rocks, but the problem persisted. The move follows similar pressure on Hungary’s Paks plant and highlights the wider impact of climate‑driven droughts across Europe. Experts warn that continued high temperatures could further strain hydropower and threaten the entire European energy grid.

Romania’s Nuclear Plant Shuts as Danube Drops to 30‑Year Low

In a decision that underscores the mounting pressure of climate‑driven droughts on Europe’s power grids, Romania shut down both reactors at the Cernavodă nuclear power station after the Danube River plunged to its lowest flow in 30 years.

The two 706‑megawatt reactors normally generate about 20% of Romania’s electricity. They were disconnected from the national grid just before noon on Thursday, with plant director Romeo Urjan warning that a restart is unlikely within the next ten days.

Efforts to raise water levels—sinking barges loaded with rocks through the river—proved insufficient as the Danube’s water was too low for the reactors’ cooling nozzles to reach the required depth.

Hungary’s only nuclear plant at Paks, which also relies on Danube water, has so far avoided shutdown, but its chief warned that a full closure could be forced by similar water‑level problems.

The abrupt loss of nuclear output will pressure Romania’s grid to draw on coal and gas plants during evening peaks, even though solar and wind generation have partially offset daytime deficits. Hydropower contributions will also decline as low river levels curtail reservoir capacity.

Experts see the situation as a sign of Europe’s broader vulnerability to heatwaves: the continent’s warming rate is twice the global average, intensifying droughts, lowering river flows, and increasing wildfire risks. This trend threatens not only energy supply but also agriculture, with estimates of climate‑related damage exceeding €3 billion for Italy alone.

If the trend continues, linked to ongoing high temperatures, the European Commission’s 1.1% growth forecast and the IMF’s 0.9% for the euro area could be eroded, as the European banking sector casts doubts about the region’s post‑pandemic rebound.

The Danube’s dramatic drop also affects shipping: river vessels have begun carrying unusually large sandbars, while navigation of famous canals has slowed or stopped in some stretches.