Heat forces Romania shuts down the second reactor at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant...

Romania shuts down the second reactor at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant after extreme heat and drought push Danube River levels too low for safe cooling. The full shutdown removes about 20% of Romania’s electricity supply, worsening grid pressure as hydropower also weakens. Authorities attempt emergency riverbed blasting and barge barriers, but the measures fail. Romania declares an energy-sector alert, pauses some industrial activity, increases fossil-fuel reliance, and seeks emergency grid controls. The crisis highlights how climate-driven drought now threatens Europe’s nuclear and energy security.

Thursday, 13 August, 2026