Romania rushed to deploy four barges filled with rocks into the Danube River on Thursday in an effort to divert water towards the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, aiming to extend the operational life of its second reactor amid record-low water levels caused by extreme heat and drought. The move comes as the Danube, already at historic lows, continues to shrink, threatening the plant’s ability to function properly. The situation escalated rapidly as the Danube’s water levels dropped to their lowest in decades, reaching just 1,400 cubic meters per second in Romania, less than a third of the usual flow for this time of year. This drastic decline forced the shutdown of the plant’s first reactor last week. The Cernavoda facility, owned by the state, generates approximately 20% of Romania’s electricity when operating at full capacity. It relies on river water to cool its reactors, making the current crisis particularly urgent. To address the issue, Romania’s military used explosives to extract rock from the riverbed near the Bala Canal, loading them onto four barges. These barges were then sunk into the Danube, creating an underwater barrier designed to shift the river’s flow toward the Cernavoda plant. According to the plant’s director, Romeo Urjan, the water level had fallen by about two centimeters from Wednesday to Thursday, and without this intervention, the second reactor would likely have been forced offline within five to six days. He estimated that the effect of the submerged barges could delay the shutdown by up to two days, extending operations to nine to 10 days from the current date. Urjan noted that the impact of the barges would take roughly a day to reach the plant, given its location approximately 60 kilometers downstream. Authorities have already initiated several emergency measures, including dredging the river, to ensure continued water flow. Acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan declared a national state of alert in the energy sector on July 31 and reiterated his appeal for voluntary electricity conservation during peak evening hours. He emphasized that the sinking of the barges was part of a broader strategy to maintain sufficient water flow for the second reactor to operate at maximum capacity. Bolojan warned that Romania might face energy shortages if the Cernavoda plant is fully shut down, depending on whether the country can import enough electricity during critical periods. Neighboring nations are also grappling with similar challenges. In Hungary, the Danube’s record-low levels have brought the country’s sole nuclear power plant close to shutting down for the first time in decades. Meanwhile, Moldova, which depends heavily on imported electricity, including from Romania, has asked its citizens to voluntarily reduce energy consumption during peak hours. The broader context of the crisis highlights the severe drought affecting much of Europe. Rivers such as the Rhine in Germany and the Meuse in Belgium have also reached critically low levels, impacting both industrial activity and residential water supply. In Italy, residents in the foothills of the Alps are facing restrictions on tap water due to dwindling reservoirs. The situation underscores how climate change is increasingly disrupting essential infrastructure and services across the continent. As the weather remains unrelenting, officials continue to monitor the effectiveness of the barge deployment and other mitigation efforts. The success of these interventions will determine whether the Cernavoda plant can avoid a complete shutdown and maintain its role as a key energy provider for Romania. For now, the focus remains on stabilizing the Danube’s flow and ensuring the safety and continuity of the nation’s vital energy resources.
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