Romania Blasts Rocks in Danube to Secure Nuclear Power Plant Water Supply

Romania is conducting blasting operations on rocks in the Danube River to ensure the water supply for the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant. The Ministry of National Defense has launched related actions aimed at altering the river's flow, diverting part of the water from the Bala branch to the Old Danube branch. Initial blasting operations began on Sunday, involving over one hundred military personnel and sixteen pieces of military equipment.

According to Navy Reserve Commander Marcel Neculae, the first two explosions failed to completely destroy the target rock, which proved harder than expected. Navy divers are currently assessing the blasting results, after which explosive charges will be gradually increased to continue the operation. Romania's water resources authority has also noted the complexity of the project and warned that it may not succeed.

The necessity of this operation stems from a sharp decline in the Danube River's water level, which has dropped to its lowest point in thirty years within Romanian territory. Due to the low water levels caused by drought, the country shut down one reactor at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant on July 28. Subsequently, Romanian Foreign Minister Odobescu and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha discussed ways to ensure electricity supplies from Ukraine, taking into account Ukraine's generation capacity and maintenance plans.

The operation is intended to address the threat posed by the ongoing drought to the cooling water supply of the nuclear power plant. Despite technical challenges and uncertainties, the Romanian government considers this a crucial step in maintaining the country's energy security. Relevant authorities will continue to monitor water level changes and assess blasting results to ensure the stable operation of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant.