Millions of people across Southeastern Europe face mounting power concerns after Romania was forced to shut down the final working reactor at its only nuclear power plant. A historic drought has drained the Danube River to unprecedented low levels, leaving the facility without enough water to safely cool its systems.
The shutdown of the Cernavoda nuclear plant’s second 706-megawatt reactor on Thursday marks a critical turn in Europe's ongoing summer heatwave and energy crisis. Nuclearelectrica, the state-owned operator, had already suspended the plant’s first reactor in late July as river levels began falling. Together, the two reactors normally generate about 20 percent of Romania's total electricity supply. Company officials reported that the reactor will remain offline for at least the next 10 days while water levels are monitored.
In response to the deficit, Romania declared a nation-wide state of energy emergency for August. Authorities have appealed to businesses and households to cut electricity consumption during peak evening hours. To cushion the loss of atomic power, the energy ministry restarted a 330-megawatt coal-fired plant and boosted output from wind turbines and hydroelectric reservoirs. Major industrial manufacturers, including automakers Dacia and Ford, have temporarily halted factory operations in the country to help relieve pressure on the grid.
The disruption extends well beyond Romania’s borders. Neighboring Moldova, which relies on Romanian imports to cover up to 60 percent of its electricity deficit, now faces severe supply shortages. Moldovan officials warned that citizens should prepare for potential rolling blackouts unless emergency power can be secured from Ukraine or more expensive European markets.
The crisis reflects a broader pattern across the continent. Data from the European climate observatory Copernicus shows that nearly two-thirds of the Danube—Europe’s second-longest river—has recorded its lowest July flow rates in 34 years. In France, extreme heat, drought, and jellyfish invasions have forced the temporary shutdown of 13 nuclear reactors, reducing national atomic capacity by over 20 percent. Meanwhile, neighboring Hungary has resorted to building underwater barriers and deploying heavy barges along the Danube to keep its own Paks nuclear facility operational.