The Romanian company Nuclearelectrica began decommissioning the second reactor at Romania’s only nuclear power station in Cernavodă on the Danube on Thursday morning, following the escalation of the energy crisis caused by the dry and hot weather across Europe.
The plant’s first reactor had already been shut down in July due to a steady decline in water flow.
In early August, the Romanian military carried out a series of explosions in the Danube to divert more water to the nuclear power station, but these efforts proved futile.
“The decision to take Unit 2 offline is due to the persistent and significant drop in the level of the River Danube. Depending on how forecasts regarding the Danube’s water level develop, specialists at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Station will decide whether to reconnect the nuclear units,” reads a statement from Nuclearelectrica, published by Digi24.ro.
Hydrologists are not optimistic about any rise in the Danube’s water level, as no significant rainfall is expected in the coming days, according to the Bucharest press.
Further upstream, in Hungary, the Paks nuclear power station has not yet been fully shut down, as there has been rainfall further upstream in Austria. According to the latest reports, Budapest may attempt – following Romania’s example – to construct a temporary dam to increase the flow of water to the plant.
The Cernavodă nuclear power station accounts for approximately 20 per cent of Romania’s total electricity generation.
The Romanian authorities have given assurances that the situation at Cernavodă will not affect domestic consumers, as the necessary electricity will be supplied, particularly through imports.
Romania has declared a state of emergency in the energy sector for the whole of August and has called on businesses and households to voluntarily reduce their electricity consumption during peak evening hours.
This summer, Europe has been hit by unprecedented heat and devastating forest fires, which have disrupted electricity generation, shipping and healthcare systems.