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8 clusters · 31 sources · 89 days · First seen · Last updated
Danube drought impacts Kozloduy and Paks NPP operations
Overview
Record‑low Danube water in late July 2026 limited cooling water for nuclear plants in the Balkans. Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant in Bulgaria formed a working group, installed a shore‑based pump station and began automated monitoring, allowing both reactors to stay online. At the same time, Hungary’s Paks plant shut all four reactors, extending restart times, and Romania’s Cernavodă unit was taken offline. By early August, Bulgarian officials reported that Kozloduy continued to run at full scheduled output, with no throttling expected for weeks, while coordination with Serbia, Romania and regional electricity operators aimed to preserve system security. On 3 August, Energy Minister Iva Petrova confirmed that Kozloduy’s uninterrupted operation was now supported by recent upgrades to the pump station, water channels and hydraulic structures, and by ongoing river‑level monitoring. The same drought forced the shutdown of Hungary’s Paks plant and one unit at Cernavodă. Serbia’s mining and energy minister described the Danube water‑level problem as “extremely complex” but said electricity supply remained stable, noting that reduced cooling capacity also pressures thermal and hydro‑electric stations across the region. By late August, the situation worsened. The Bulgarian Ministry of Energy announced that Kozloduy would reduce power output as a preventive measure to ‘guarantee safe operation,’ with Unit 5 reducing capacity by approximately 120 megawatts. Energy Minister Iva Petrova stated that while the situation was extreme, there was no immediate risk to the national electricity supply. To mitigate the crisis, the Bulgarian government considered constructing a dam, potentially 250 to 300 meters in length, to maintain water levels. In late August, Unit 5 capacity began a gradual increase to 950 MW following a rise in water levels.
Entities
Danube River · Kozloduy NPP · Iva Petrova · Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant · Bulgaria
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 7 SOURCES] Energy Minister Iva Petrova stated there is no risk to the electricity supply or the stability of the power system.
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Bulgarian government is planning to construct a dam between 250 and 300 meters long near the Kozloduy NPP.
- [● 5 SOURCES] The capacity of Unit 5 at the Kozloduy NPP was preemptively reduced by approximately 120 megawatts.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Construction of the planned dam is estimated to take between 10 and 15 days.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The current water column is approximately 31–32 centimeters below the required minimum level.
- [● 2 SOURCES] A 50 cm drop in water levels would separate the country from a significant reduction in Kozloduy NPP capacity.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Energy expert Georgi Kaschiev noted that the shore station pumps require a minimum water column of 3 meters to operate correctly.
Timeline
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[BUSINESS] 2 sourcesBulgaria's Kozloduy NPP reduces capacity due to low Danube levels
Low Danube water levels have forced Bulgaria's Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant to reduce capacity, prompting a reliance on coal, renewables, and storage to maintain energy stability.
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[BUSINESS] 2 sourcesPaks nuclear power plant remains operational amid low Danube levels
A new bottom sill on the Danube is keeping the Paks nuclear power plant operational during record low water levels, though river shipping has collapsed, affecting 1.5 million tons of cargo.
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[BUSINESS] 2 sourcesKozloduy Nuclear Power Plant faces cooling risks due to low Danube levels
Low Danube River levels are straining the cooling system at Bulgaria's Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, leading to a preemptive power reduction at Unit 5 as authorities monitor water thresholds.
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[BUSINESS] 2 sourcesPaks Nuclear Power Plant faces risks from Danube water levels
The Paks Nuclear Power Plant faced operational risks due to high Danube water temperatures and low water levels, prompting discussions on energy security and plans for a new riverbed sill.
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[BUSINESS] 2 sourcesKozloduy NPP faces critical water levels as Danube remains low
Bulgarian Energy Minister Iva Petrova warns that Kozloduy NPP remains at critical water levels due to the low Danube, though electricity exports continue and long-term technical solutions are being developed.
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[BUSINESS] 6 sourcesKozloduy Nuclear Power Plant increases Unit 5 capacity to 950 MW
Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant has increased Unit 5 capacity to 950 MW following a rise in Danube River water levels, resolving drought-related technological constraints.
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[BUSINESS] 17 sourcesKozloduy NPP faces operational challenges due to low Danube water levels
Low Danube water levels have forced Bulgaria's Kozloduy NPP to reduce Unit 5 capacity. The government is considering building a 250–300 meter dam to secure cooling water and ensure energy stability.
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[INTERNATIONAL] 2 sourcesKozloduy nuclear plant implements safety measures amid record low Danube water levels
Kozloduy nuclear plant set up a special group to safeguard operations as the Danube reaches record low levels, affecting navigation and prompting regional cooperation.
Sources
actualno.com · adevarul.ro · alfahir.hu · biznis.rs · blagoevgrad24.bg · clubz.bg · energetskiportal.ba · euronews.bg · fakti.bg · hang.hu · hotnews.ro · index.hu · liner.hu · mediafax.ro · novini247.com · petel.bg · pik.bg · plovdiv24.bg · politika.rs · psnews.ro · purplemedia.com.ar · realitatea.md · ruse.news · ruse24.bg · safenews.bg · serbia-energy.eu · standartnews.com · telegraph.bg · trafficnews.bg · vacantevacante.com · varna24.bg
This summary has been updated 9 times: see revision history