Romania Shuts Down Sole Nuclear Power Plant as Danube Water Levels Plummet

Severe drought conditions along the Danube River have forced the emergency shutdown of Romania’s Cernavoda nuclear facility, raising concerns over regional energy stability.

Romania has been forced to shut down its only nuclear power plant as record-low water levels in the Danube River reach critical thresholds, operator Nuclearelectrica announced on Wednesday. The Cernavoda nuclear plant, which provides approximately 20% of Romania's total electricity supply, began the shutdown process as a precautionary measure. The facility relies on the Danube for essential cooling processes; however, the ongoing drought across Central and Eastern Europe has caused water levels to drop to depths that threaten the intake systems required for safe operation. "The shutdown is…