Drought on the Danube Forces Romania and Hungary to Cut Nuclear Power Generation

Record-low water levels in the Danube River, caused by prolonged drought and an ongoing heatwave, have forced nuclear power plants in Romania and Hungary to reduce electricity generation, CEEnergyNews reports.

Romanian nuclear operator Nuclearelectrica has taken both units of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant offline. Unit 1 was shut down on 27 July, while Unit 2 was scheduled to cease operations on 30 July.

According to the publication, this marks the first time that both reactors at Cernavodă have been shut down simultaneously due to critically low water levels in the Danube.

The Cernavodă NPP supplies around 20% of Romania's electricity generation.

Hungary Reduces Output at Paks NPP

In Hungary, the operator of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant has also been forced to reduce the output of one of its four reactor units because of insufficient cooling water.

CEEnergyNews notes that if hydrological conditions continue to deteriorate, additional restrictions on the plant's operation may become necessary.

The Paks NPP is Hungary's largest electricity producer.

Danube Water Levels Near Historic Lows

The Danube serves as the primary cooling water source for both nuclear power plants.

On the Romanian section of the river, water discharge has fallen to around 1,650 m³/s, compared with the long-term July average of 4,750 m³/s. According to forecasts, the flow could decline further to 1,500 m³/s, only slightly above the historical minimum.

The situation highlights the growing impact of extreme weather events on energy infrastructure across Central and Eastern Europe.