Romanian Navy detonates rock to divert Danube water to Cernavodă nuclear plant
Facing historically low water levels in the Danube, the Romanian government mobilised the Navy to protect the Cernavodă nuclear power plant. Reactor 1 was shut down days earlier and reactor 2 remains operational only while water levels stay above critical thresholds.
A small test explosion was carried out on the Pârjoaia rock to verify parameters, and a larger controlled detonation was scheduled for around noon to redirect the river flow toward the plant. The operation also includes sinking four barges loaded with about 500 tonnes of stone in the Brațul Bala branch to increase water delivery to the old Danube channel.
Technical risks were noted, including the possibility that the hydraulic effect may be incomplete and that water turbidity could rise temporarily. The Danube level near Cernavodă was measured at –209 cm and was forecast to fall to –225 cm by 8 August, with a flow of 1,550 m³/s—roughly three times lower than the July average. Authorities warned that reactor 2 could sustain operation for only four to five more days under current conditions, prompting calls for voluntary reductions in industrial electricity consumption.
Entities: Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant · Cristian Bușoi · Danube River · Pârjoaia rock · Romanian Government · Romanian Navy
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 8 SOURCES] A small detonation was already carried out earlier as the first intervention to divert the Danube. (multiple)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Four barges loaded with roughly 500 tonnes of stone will be sunk to divert the Brațul Bala branch toward the old Danube channel. (multiple)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Reactor 1 of the Cernavodă nuclear plant was shut down several days before the rock‑detonation operation. (multiple)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The Romanian Navy is preparing a controlled detonation of the Pârjoaia rock on the Danube to divert water away from the Cernavodă nuclear plant. (multiple)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The operation carries significant technical risks, including the possibility that the hydraulic effect may not be fully achieved and that water turbidity could increase temporarily. (multiple)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Danube water level near Cernavodă was measured at –209 cm and was forecast to reach –225 cm on 8 August. (multiple)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Romanian government has mobilised naval forces to keep reactor 2 of the Cernavodă plant operational due to extremely low water levels. (multiple)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Danube flow at the border was 1,550 m³/s, about three times lower than the multi‑annual July average of 4,700 m³/s. (multiple)