Romania detonates rock to restore Danube cooling water for nuclear plant amid drought
Romanian forces used explosives to move a rock blocking the Danube, aiming to divert water to the Cernavodă reactor, while both Romania and Hungary face reduced nuclear output due to record-low river levels.
Romanian naval personnel carried out a controlled explosion on the Danube to shift a large rock that was limiting water flow to the Cernavodă nuclear plant, the country’s only operating reactor. The blast, which employed about 180 kg of explosives, created a surge of water that authorities say will enable the construction of a temporary dam and increase the water supply to the reactor’s cooling channel.
The operation comes as both Romania and neighboring Hungary have been forced to curtail output at their sole nuclear facilities because the river’s water level has fallen to historic lows. Romania declared a nationwide state of emergency for August after the Cernavodă plant was shut down, and Hungary’s Paks plant is operating at less than half its capacity, with officials warning that a full shutdown could extend for weeks.
"Any day past Wednesday or Thursday that the nuclear power plant functions is a gain. A day of it functioning is three times more efficient than the costs of this operation," said Romania’s defence minister Radu Miruțǎ.
"An energy crisis situation could arise beginning Monday. Coordinated steps and restraint will be needed to avoid more severe consequences. We are counting on everyone!" Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar posted on X.
"Today and maybe tomorrow the last turbine producing 240 megawatts can keep working. This is very good news, as the complete shutdown of the plant can be avoided on one of the days with the highest consumption," he added.
Both governments are turning to costly electricity imports to meet rising demand during a heatwave, while voluntary consumption cuts have been implemented by industry, including a pharmaceutical firm that plans to halve its power use for three weeks. Record-low Danube levels are also affecting Serbia’s hydroelectric output, prompting an emergency meeting on energy issues.
Meteorological forecasts show no significant rain in the near term, meaning river levels are unlikely to rise soon. The exposed riverbed has revealed historical artifacts, including a World War II bomb and the remains of a woolly mammoth discovered by a local resident in northern Bulgaria.