Unit 1 of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant will be shut down in a controlled manner and disconnected from the National Energy System on Tuesday morning, due to the very low, unprecedented level of the Danube, National Company Nuclearelectrica announced on Monday evening.
"Unit 1 of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant will be shut down in a controlled manner and disconnected from the National Energy System on the morning of July 28, 2026. Unit 1 will be shut down in a controlled manner due to the very low, unprecedented level of the Danube, caused by the severe drought, based on the plant's procedures applicable in severe drought situations. The shutdown occurs as a result of the most recent forecasts issued by the National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management (INHGA)," Nuclearelectrica said in a release issued to the Bucharest Stock Exchange, according to Agerpres.
According to Nuclearelectrica representatives, in the event that certain parameters associated with the low level of the Danube approach the permitted operating limits, in compliance with nuclear safety procedures and standards, the nuclear power plant experts apply the necessary operational measures to maintain safety margins, including the decision to shut down one unit or even both if the current situation does not change.
"Such measures have a preventive role and aim to protect nuclear safety and the reliability of the installations. Nuclearelectrica carefully monitors the evolution of the Danube river level in order to ensure safe operation. Maintaining Unit 1 of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant in a safe shutdown state has no impact on nuclear safety, personnel or the environment," the cited document reads.
According to the latest weather forecast, valid for the period from July 26, 07:00 to August 2, 07:00, the flow of the Danube at the entrance to the country (Bazias section) will decrease to 1600 m3/s, below the multiannual averages of July (4700 m3/s) and August (4300 m3/s). Downstream of the Iron Gates, the flows will generally be stationary with a slight downward trend.
The lowest flow recorded by the Danube was in 1985 when it had 1400 m3/s at the entrance to the country, the Romanian Waters National Administration recently showed.
Unit 1 of the Cernavoda nucler power plant was put into operation in 1996, and, to date, the operation of Unit 1 has led to the avoidance of 145 million tons of CO2 in the atmosphere and has safely delivered over 149 million MWh, at a capacity factor of over 90%, being based on the capacity factor in the top three nuclear reactors, globally.
Nuclearelectrica manages the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, which operates Units 1 and 2, with a capacity of 700 MWe, as well as the Pitesti Nuclear Fuel Plant, which is a qualified producer of CANDU 6 nuclear fuel.
