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Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant faces water shortages as Danube hits historic low
The Danube River has reached a historic low level in the Cernavodă area, prompting the Romanian government to implement emergency measures to ensure sufficient water for the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant's cooling systems.
The Interministerial Bala-Cernavodă Committee is evaluating several technical interventions to be applied in the coming weeks. A primary solution is the dredging of channels, approximately 30 meters wide and at least 2 meters deep, to redirect more water from the Bala branch toward the Old Danube and the plant's intake. Currently, 85% of the flow is directed toward the Bala branch, leaving only 15% for the Old Danube.
Other measures being analyzed include the construction of a stone weir to direct water into deeper sections of the river, the installation of a mobile dam on the intake canal, and the use of anchored barges near the Cernavodă bridge to influence current direction. The Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant has also prepared backup equipment, such as pumps and generators, to manage potential shortages.
The committee will operate for 30 days and is scheduled to present a final report by approximately September 13, 2026, detailing technical solutions, implementation timelines, and funding sources.
Entities
Bala-Cernavodă Interministerial Committee · Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant · Danube River · Nuclearelectrica · Romania
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant has prepared backup equipment, including pumps and generators, for insufficient water flow scenarios. www.juridice.ro
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Danube River has reached its lowest recorded level in the Cernavodă area. sibiu100.ro · adevarul.ro · www.juridice.ro · jurnalul.ro
- [● 2 SOURCES] Barges have been anchored near the Cernavodă bridge to redirect water flow toward the navigable channel and the plant's water intake. adevarul.ro · www.juridice.ro
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Interministerial Bala-Cernavodă Committee is evaluating technical solutions to ensure water levels for the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant cooling intake. sibiu100.ro · adevarul.ro · www.juridice.ro · jurnalul.ro
- [● 2 SOURCES] Currently, 85% of the river flow goes toward the Bala branch, while only 15% reaches the Old Danube toward Cernavodă. sibiu100.ro · jurnalul.ro
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Proposed technical solutions include constructing a stone weir and installing a mobile dam on the intake canal. www.juridice.ro
- [● 3 SOURCES] Dredging channels approximately 30 meters wide and at least 2 meters deep is considered the fastest possible intervention. sibiu100.ro · adevarul.ro · jurnalul.ro
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Interministerial Committee will operate for 30 days and is expected to present a final report by approximately September 13, 2026. sibiu100.ro · www.juridice.ro · jurnalul.ro