Romania declares energy alert over low Danube water levels

Power generation and grid stability: both reactors at the Cernavodă nuclear plant (700 MW each) are shut down for lack of cooling water — unit 1 since 28 July 2026, unit 2 since 13 August 2026. Romania is therefore missing around 20% of its electricity output. All power plants have been instructed to run at maximum capacity, more than 400 MW of additional renewable and storage capacity has been fast-tracked for approval (roughly a third of it storage), and emergency supplies from a Ukrainian nuclear plant have been arranged.

On 31 July 2026 Romania's government under Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan declared a 30-day national state of alert in the energy sector — effectively covering the whole of August. The trigger is a historically low Danube: the river is currently carrying only around 1,600 m³/s, less than half the usual level for the season, and a further drop of 100 m³/s is considered possible. This threatens the cooling water supply of the Cernavodă nuclear plant. The government allocated 7 million lei from the state budget for emergency measures to redirect flow at the Bala–Danube bifurcation and is urging the public to save electricity voluntarily during evening hours. Update (4 August 2026): After the controlled blast at the Bala rock outcrop, the water level in the Cernavodă plant's intake basin rose by about two centimetres on the morning of 4 August 2026; against a forecast daily decline of about the same amount, that is a net effect of roughly four centimetres, or just under two extra days of operation for Unit 2. Plant director Romeo Urjan expects Unit 2 to be shut down within five to seven days absent further measures; the planned sinking of barges at Bala could add another two to three days (source: Mediafax, Antena 3 CNN). Update (7 August 2026): on 7 August 2026 the energy ministry sent a formal early warning to the European Commission and the competent authorities of the other member states, saying the hydrological drought and low Danube levels were approaching the critical threshold for safe operation of the plant. Unit 1 had already been disconnected on 28 July 2026; a shutdown of Unit 2 would, on the ministry's account, cost around 10 % of Romania's electricity output. It said there was currently no adverse effect on the internal electricity market. The warning stays in force until the Danube's flow again permits safe operation of Unit 2, but according to weather forecasts no earlier than 15 August 2026 (sources: Mediafax, Economedia.ro, Capital.ro). Update (13 August 2026): Unit 2 of the Cernavodă nuclear plant was shut down in a controlled manner on 13 August 2026 because the Danube water level could no longer ensure cooling. For the first time both units are off the grid simultaneously; the plant normally supplies around a fifth of Romania's electricity generation. Plant director Romeo Urjan does not expect a restart within the following ten days. The shortfall is to be covered by wind power and electricity imports; as a last resort, evening consumption restrictions for industrial customers are envisaged. Across nearly two thirds of the Danube, July flow rates were the lowest recorded for a month of July in 34 years. The plant was last shut down for drought reasons in 2003 (source: Euronews, 13 August 2026). Update (25.09.2026): According to energy state secretary Cristian Bușoi, a restart of the two Cernavodă units is ruled out in September and, with Danube flow still falling, realistic around mid-October 2026 at the earliest; the shortfall is being covered mainly by electricity imports (Economedia/Digi24, 25.09.2026). Update (1 October 2026): A new government decision allows Transelectrica to continue its grid safety measures, including staggered consumption limits if necessary; its justification says the Danube flow forecast offers no reliable prospect of restarting even one of the two Cernavodă units in October 2026 (Știripesurse/Mediafax, 1 Oct 2026). Update (27 October 2026): Energy Minister Dumitru Chisăliță said one Cernavodă reactor could restart around 15 November 2026 if Danube flow forecasts hold; both units remain shut down (Newsweek România, 27 October 2026).