Romania’s attempts to raise water levels in the Danube and keep the Cernavodă nuclear power plant operating amid the ongoing heatwave and drought have failed to produce lasting results, according to a senior Energy Ministry official. The country now needs to prepare for a temporary shutdown of the remaining reactor and possible restrictions on electricity supply to large industrial consumers.
Last week, the Romanian government adopted a decision allowing the country’s transmission system operator, Transelectrica, to limit consumption for industrial customers and curb or cancel electricity exports if the situation requires it.
The authorities previously took various steps to ensure sufficient water for reactor cooling at Cernavodă, including dredging, blasting a rock formation on the riverbed, and sinking four loaded barges in the Danube.
However, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Energy, Cristian Buşoi, has said that the effects of the measures on the Danube have not been sustainable, which is why Romania must prepare for the scenario in which unit 2 at Cernavodă would not be in operation for a short period, Romanian media reported.
Supply to large industrial consumers will be cut by 10-30% if there is not enough electricity for import
If there is not enough cooling water this week or at the beginning of next week, and if there is not enough electricity available for import on the regional market during peak hours, Transelectrica will reduce electricity supplies to large industrial consumers by 10%-30%, depending on the situation, he explained.
One of Cernavodă’s two nuclear reactors was shut down at the end of July, while authorities are struggling to keep the second unit running. Each reactor at the Cernavodă plant normally accounts for around 10% of Romania’s electricity generation.
The extreme temperatures and low river levels, which are expected to persist in the coming days and weeks, have been causing problems for electricity generation across Southeast Europe.
Buşoi: Households will not be affected even if Cernavodă is shut down
The authorities said last week that the measures would not apply to households, and Buşoi has now reiterated that the population will not be affected even if unit 2 at Cernavodă is shut down. However, he urged both households and industry to cut electricity consumption during peak hours.
