Romania Shuts Nuclear Plant Due to Extreme Heat and Low Danube River Levels
Summary
Romania has shut down its only nuclear power plant after extreme heat and low Danube River levels reduced the water needed to cool its reactors. The Cernavoda plant, which supplies about 20 percent of the country’s electricity, is not expected to resume operations for at least 10 days.
Key Points
- Romania has fully shut down the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant because low Danube River levels left insufficient water to cool the reactors.
- The plant’s two reactors provided about 20 percent of Romania’s total electricity production.
- Plant director Romeo Urjan said operations are unlikely to resume for at least 10 days.
- Officials tried to improve water flow by sinking stone-filled barges, but the river level remained too low.
