Romania extends Cernavodă nuclear plant alert by 30 days as Danube stays low

Alert extended for another 30 days

The National Emergency Committee (CNSU) published a decision in Romania's official gazette, the Monitorul Oficial, on the evening of 28 October 2026, extending the state of alert for the Cernavodă nuclear power plant by 30 days. The measure rests on the hydrological drought, which has left the Danube running too low where it enters Romania to cool the plant's systems. The decision states that Units 1 and 2 cannot be returned to service at any point in November 2026. It also cites a continuing risk of an electricity supply crisis, caused by a shortage of power and energy reserves needed to balance the grid at evening peak consumption. Emergency measures and works ordered under CNSU decision no. 24/2026 remain in force for the duration of the alert.

Two reactors offline since the summer

Unit 1 was shut down in a controlled manner on 28 July 2026, and Unit 2 followed on 13 August 2026. Digi24 reports that the plant has two reactors capable of generating power, out of five originally planned, and that both shutdowns were forced by the low river level, which supplies the water needed for cooling. On 29 October, Energy Minister Dumitru Chisăliță asked member states of the Nuclear Alliance for support in retechnologising Unit 1, amid an investigation by the European Commission into state aid Romania intends to grant the project. In an interview for Digi24's “În fața ta”, scheduled to air on Saturday, 31 October at 14:00, the minister said that on current forecasts one of the nuclear reactors could restart around 15 November.

Danube flow far below requirement

Specialists expect the river's flow to reach 1,550 m3/s, which is insufficient when the plant needs 4,900 m3/s. Another report puts the flow at the Baziaș section, where the Danube enters Romania, at 1,550 m3/s by 4 November, still below historical averages. Background in Mediafax's report says the river level fell to minus 259 cm in October, only 3 cm above the absolute operational safety limit of minus 262 cm. Low rainfall reduces hydroelectric output, while shorter days and cloud cover cut solar generation. The ministry's statements describe the situation as a risk of shortage rather than a supply outage, with the units out of service through November.

Forecast flow by 4 November1,550

Required flow4,900

Forecast flow by 4 November

1550 m3/s

Required flow

4900 m3/s

Data from the article text

Grid strain and imports

Transelectrica S.A. has been directed to keep the national grid running by raising output from all available sources, securing imports or reducing consumption, the ministry said. The communiqué also says the alert measures include higher output from alternative sources and careful management of consumption to prevent imbalances in the national system. Romania is relying heavily on imports to cover the shortfall, according to background information in Mediafax's report. The decision keeps the emergency works ordered under CNSU decision no. 24/2026 in place while the alert runs.