Romania has decided to temporarily shut down its only nuclear power plant in Cernavoda due to a drastic drop in water levels in the Danube River. The development has raised major concerns about the stability of the country's electricity supply.

This is the first time in 23 years that this plant has faced such a blockage. Extreme meteorological conditions, high temperatures and prolonged drought have significantly reduced the flow of the Danube River, whose water serves directly to cool the reactors. As a result, the river level has dropped to critical parameters, making it impossible to continue the cooling process safely.

The Cernavoda power plant used to cover about a fifth of Romania's electricity production. To compensate for this shortfall in the national grid, authorities have started importing electricity from Ukraine, while also relying on alternative domestic sources to avoid disruptions for consumers.

Romanian authorities are intensively monitoring the hydrological situation in the Danube riverbed. The return of the reactors to operation will depend entirely on improving the water level and ensuring technical cooling without any safety risks.

The event once again highlights the profound impact that hot climates and prolonged droughts have on critical energy infrastructure, especially on power plants that depend directly on water resources.