Danube at record low: Romania takes emergency measures for Cernavoda nuclear plant
The river level is just three centimetres above the operating minimum. Reservoirs are releasing extra water to keep cooling the shut-down reactors.
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Romania has taken emergency measures for the Cernavoda nuclear power plant because of the historically low level of the Danube. The water level stood at minus 259 centimetres, just three centimetres above the operational minimum of minus 262 centimetres, according to Romanian media reports cited by Bulgaria's BTA news agency on Monday. The intake basin holds about 1.6 metres of water, while more than five metres are needed for optimal operation of both reactors. Units 1 and 2 have been shut down since July 28 and Aug. 13 respectively, but their auxiliary systems still need cooling water.
The water authority has begun controlled releases from reservoirs on the Olt and Arges rivers, and an additional 20 cubic metres per second will flow from the Iezer reservoir until Oct. 18. Authorities stressed that the reservoirs are not being drained. A backup plan envisages a barrier to channel more water to the cooling pumps. Previous historic lows have now been surpassed, said Adrian Maizel of the Lower Danube River Administration.
Authorities see no threat to nuclear safety. "There is no prospect of a nuclear accident," said Petre Min, head of the emergency response centre at Romania's nuclear regulator CNCAN, adding that heat in the reactor area decreases over time after shutdown. Energy officials said the bigger concern is the electricity market: experts quoted by Romanian media warned that the prolonged outage could push power prices significantly higher.