Romania uses explosives in Danube to maintain nuclear plant cooling
Romania's military detonated explosives along the Danube River to redirect water toward the Cernavodă nuclear plant amid severe regional energy shortages.
Romanian military forces detonated 180 kilograms of explosives along the Danube River on Monday to alter its flow and secure cooling water for the Cernavodă nuclear power plant. Debris from the blast is being deposited 50 kilometers downstream into a river arm supplying the facility to raise water levels at its intake point and prevent a full operational shutdown.
The Danube's flow rate in Romania has fallen to 1,500 cubic meters per second, representing less than a third of its typical July average. Following significant reductions in electricity output, Romanian authorities declared a month-long national state of emergency for August. The severe drought and dwindling river levels have also impacted regional energy supplies, prompting power-saving calls in Hungary and Serbia, where hydroelectric generation has dropped sharply.
Sources: Berlingske, Dagens Industri, Die Presse, NOS (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting), Tagesschau
Sources
- Die Presse — Notstand in Südosteuropa: Rumänien und Serbien haben zu wenig Strom [premium]
- Dagens Industri — Låga vattennivåer – fler kärnkraftverk på väg stängas
- NOS (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting) — Roemenië blaast rotsen in Donau op om koelwater bij kerncentrale te krijgen
- Tagesschau — Stromkrise durch Niedrigwasser der Donau - Rumänien sprengt Felsen
- Berlingske — Rumænien sprænger klippe i Donau for at sende vand til atomreaktor
Earlier coverage
- Aug 10, 2026, 03:30 PM UTCHungary turns off landmark lighting as drought deepens energy crisis
- Aug 5, 2026, 02:00 AM UTCHungary's Paks nuclear plant narrowly avoids shutdown amid severe Danube drought
- Aug 3, 2026, 08:00 PM UTCLow Danube water levels trigger energy emergencies in Southeastern Europe