Romanian naval forces conducted a controlled explosion to redirect water from the Danube River to support cooling at the Cernavodă nuclear power station, amid historically low river levels caused by an ongoing drought. The operation took place as the country’s last functioning nuclear reactor faced risks of shutdown due to insufficient water supply for its cooling system.
Authorities in Romania used approximately 180 kilograms of explosives to move a large rock obstructing water flow, allowing the construction of a temporary dam to increase water diversion to the plant. The explosion created a visible surge of water, highlighting the severity of the drought impacting multiple sectors, including energy production, transportation, and water availability along the Danube. Romania declared a state of emergency for August in response to declining electricity output following the partial shutdown of its nuclear facility.
“Any day past Wednesday or Thursday that the nuclear power plant functions is a gain,” Romanian Defence Minister Radu Mîruţă said, emphasizing the cost-effectiveness of the emergency measure compared to potential energy losses.
The crisis extends beyond Romania. Hungary’s sole nuclear facility, the Paks nuclear power station, is also operating at reduced capacity due to insufficient Danube water for cooling. The 44-year-old plant, normally supplying nearly half of Hungary’s electricity, has been running at less than 50 percent capacity. Initially, officials warned the plant could shut down as early as Sunday, but revised projections indicate it may maintain limited output until Monday or Tuesday, providing a temporary buffer against power shortages.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar indicated a full shutdown of Paks could occur next week if drought conditions persist. “An energy crisis situation could arise beginning Monday,” Magyar posted on social media, stressing the need for coordinated efforts and voluntary reductions in energy consumption to mitigate impacts. Magyar noted that voluntary demand cuts had already reduced power consumption by 700 megawatts on Sunday, helping to relieve grid pressure. He added that one of the plant’s turbines was expected to generate 240 megawatts for an additional day, delaying a full shutdown on a day of high electricity demand.
Among private sector responses, pharmaceutical company Richter announced plans to cut its electricity usage by more than half over the upcoming three weeks to assist in conserving energy.
The drought is affecting other countries along the Danube as well. In Serbia, record-low water levels have forced its main hydroelectric plant to operate at just 20 percent capacity. In response, Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut convened an emergency meeting to address the growing energy challenges.
Experts warn that no significant rainfall is expected in the Danube basin, which spans ten countries, suggesting that low water levels and related energy production issues may persist for weeks. The river’s diminished flow has exposed submerged objects including rocks, shipwrecks, a historic bomb from World War II, and recently unearthed prehistoric bones.
The remains of a woolly mammoth were discovered near Ryahovo, a village in northern Bulgaria. Specialists from the regional history museum in Ruse were dispatched to investigate the find, which underscores the dramatic environmental changes currently affecting the Danube region.