Romania Shuts Down Both Cernavoda Nuclear Reactors Amid Severe Drought

The state-owned energy producer SN Nuclearelectrica SA executed controlled shutdowns of both reactors at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant between July 28 and July 29, 2026. The company first disconnected Unit 1 from the national energy grid on Tuesday, followed by the shutdown of Unit 2 between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

These preventive actions were triggered by a severe drought that pushed the Danube River to unprecedented levels, with flow rates dropping to approximately 1,600-1,650 cubic meters per second. Officials noted these levels are nearing the historic minimum recorded in 1985. The shutdowns were necessary to protect the reactor cooling system pumps from damage and maintain nuclear safety margins.

The Ministry of Energy of Romania reported that domestic production fell to between 4,000 and 4,300 MW against a peak demand of 7,300 MW. The government stated that the resulting power deficit will be managed through commercial imports and that household electricity prices will remain unaffected due to fixed tariffs. Nuclearelectrica continues to monitor the river's evolution to determine when the units can be safely reconnected to the National Energy System.