Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant unlikely to restart before September 10

Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant is expected to be unable to resume operations before September 10. Cristian Bușoi, State Secretary of the Romanian Ministry of Energy, stated that although the Danube River flow is recovering, water levels around the plant have not yet reached the conditions required for a safe and stable restart.

In a recent interview, Bușoi said that to avoid creating unrealistic expectations, it can currently be confirmed that the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant does not yet meet the conditions for restart before September 10. He explained that the plant's operation depends on a stable water source to ensure the normal functioning of the reactor cooling system. A short-term increase in river flow is insufficient to support the resumption of unit generation, and if water levels drop again after restart, the plant could still be forced to shut down within days.

Approximately three weeks ago, the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant suspended power generation due to a significant drop in Danube River water levels. To secure water intake, local authorities subsequently implemented emergency measures, including removing a rock obstructing water flow and deliberately sinking four barges to channel more water into the plant's intake area.

This shutdown has highlighted the dependence of some of Romania's power infrastructure on river hydrological conditions during prolonged low-water periods. High temperatures and rising electricity demand have further amplified pressure on power supply. Bușoi stated that the government's goal is to ensure the two reactors at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant remain operational through this autumn and early winter to meet the anticipated increase in electricity demand.

In addition, Unit 1 of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant is scheduled to undergo a major modernization overhaul starting next year, during which the unit will be offline for more than two years. Therefore, ensuring the stable operation of the plant before the cold season arrives and Unit 1's prolonged shutdown is of critical importance to Romania's electricity supply.

Currently, authorities are prioritizing operational safety. Whether Danube River water levels can remain stable continues to be the key condition for the resumption of operations at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant.