Romania nuclear plant to shut as Danube hits record low

Romania will start shutting down the second reactor at its Cernavoda nuclear power plant on Thursday after the Danube's flow fell to a record low this week, the government said Wednesday.

The energy ministry said Unit 2 would be shut down in a controlled manner because of current hydrological conditions. The plant, Romania's only nuclear power plant, had already shut down one of its two 700-megawatt reactors at the end of last month.

Cernavoda usually generates about a fifth of Romania's electricity. The ministry said alternative sources, including wind power generation and imports, were expected to cover supply, and renewed an appeal for responsible consumption.

The plant uses Danube water for cooling. Romania had tried to delay a full shutdown through dredging and other work to direct more river water toward the plant, including sinking rock-filled barges and blowing up a rock. The efforts were budgeted at more than two million euros.

Cernavoda was last shut for several weeks during a drought in 2003, when it had only one reactor in operation. In neighbouring Hungary, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said the government had ordered work near the Paks nuclear plant as the Danube was expected to fall further.