Romania shuts down the Cernavoda nuclear power plant due to extreme drought and low Danube flow

Romanian authorities disconnected the second reactor of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant on Thursday, resulting in the complete shutdown of the country's only nuclear facility. The decision was prompted by extreme hydrological conditions and a persistent decline in the water levels of the Danube River, which rendered the plant unable to maintain necessary operations.

The shutdown follows a period of continuous water level drops in the Danube, which complicated the cooling and operational requirements of the facility. The move reflects the significant impact of environmental conditions on critical infrastructure, as the plant remains offline following unsuccessful attempts to mitigate the effects of the low water flow.