Danube River water levels drop to critical lows across Bulgaria and Romania

The Danube River is experiencing critically low water levels due to prolonged heatwaves and drought, impacting navigation, energy production, and nuclear power plant operations across Bulgaria and Romania.

In Bulgaria, water levels at several stations, including Ruse and Silistra, are significantly below the scale. The Ministry of Energy is monitoring the situation to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, the country’s largest electricity producer.

In Romania, the river's flow at the Baziaș entry point has dropped to approximately 1,350 cubic meters per second, which is roughly one-third of the multi-annual August average of 3,900 cubic meters per second. This historic low has already affected hydroelectric production at the Iron Gates facility and has led to the shutdown of reactors at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant due to insufficient cooling water. Hydrologists forecast that water levels may continue to decline toward 1,300 cubic meters per second in the coming days, further complicating river transport and regional energy stability.