Romania is turning to coal-fired generation and electricity imports after drought forced its remaining nuclear reactor offline Thursday, temporarily removing about 1.4 gigawatts of capacity that normally supplies roughly 20% of the country’s electricity.
State-controlled Nuclearelectrica began disconnecting the 706-megawatt Unit 2 reactor at its Cernavodă plant after record-low Danube levels fell below what was required to continue operating, Reuters reports. Unit 1, also rated at 706 MW, has been shut since July 28 because of the same water shortage.
The loss leaves both reactors at Romania’s only nuclear power plant offline at the same time. The Energy Ministry has said available generation and imports should cover electricity needs, although the government has already prepared staged industrial curtailments if required.
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Authorities have activated a 330-megawatt lignite-fired unit while seeking additional output from wind and hydropower. Romania can also draw on roughly 4,000 MW of cross-border import capacity, according to the ministry.
The shutdown came after unusually aggressive attempts to keep Unit 2 running. Authorities blasted a rock obstruction, dredged sections of the riverbed, and sank rock-filled barges to divert more Danube water toward Cernavodă.
By August 11, Danube flows at Romania’s entry point had fallen to an all-time low of 1,370 cubic metres per second, Reuters reported, citing the state water management agency. Nuclearelectrica subsequently warned investors that continued declines could force the August 13 shutdown.
Despite the operational hit, Nuclearelectrica shares finished Thursday unchanged at 65.90 lei on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. The Romanian state owns roughly 82.5% of the company.
