Alert Extended at Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant Due to Low Danube Levels
Romania extended the state of alert at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant by 30 days, according to an official decision published in the Official Gazette on October 28, 2026. The Ministry of Energy confirmed the extension, pointing to persistently low water levels on the Danube River at the country’s border and the continued inability to restart Units 1 and 2 throughout November 2026. The measure maintains the application of emergency intervention works and measures as established by decision number 24 of 2026 to secure necessary water flows and levels for the facility during the alert state, with central and local public authorities supporting the designated institutions. The ministry noted that the action addresses the continued risk of a power supply crisis stemming from a lack of adequate power and energy reserves to balance the system during peak consumption hours.
Cernavodă nuclear plant shuts down indefinitely todayReactor 2 is being gradually disconnected due to critically low Danube levelsRomania now relies on energy imports pic.twitter.com/hQxHEQt0sy
The prolonged shutdown of both nuclear reactors leaves the national power grid exposed to severe supply deficits during peak consumption hours. Without sufficient domestic power reserves to balance the system, grid operator Transelectrica must enforce emergency measures, including ramping up production from all available sources, securing energy imports, and reducing consumption.
The Drought and River Levels Behind the Shutdown
Severe hydrological drought forced the step-by-step shutdown of the facility over the summer. Centrala Nuclearoelectrică Cernavodă, which previously ensured 20% of Romania’s electricity production, has been completely shut down since August 13, 2026, due to low Danube discharges. Unit 1 was taken offline in a controlled stop on July 28, 2026, followed by Unit 2 on August 13, 2026, after water levels in the Danube dropped dramatically.
In October, water levels at the plant fell to minus 259 cm, coming within three centimeters of the absolute operational safety limit of minus 262 cm. While water levels have begun a slow recovery—reaching 261 cm recently—Apele Române forecasts steady daily increases of 1 to 2 cm, projecting the level to reach 248 cm by November 3, which still sits well below the minus 230 cm threshold recorded when operators initially closed the plant. Reduced precipitation diminishes hydroelectric output, while shorter days and cloud cover affect photovoltaic generation, forcing Romania into heavy reliance on imports.
Projected Timelines and Restart Estimates for November
Speaking to Digi24, the minister estimated that the plant could bring its first reactor back online around November 15, provided that hydrological forecasts and weather patterns hold.
“We have an approach to view this possible start in the second half, meaning in the next two weeks,” Chisăliță said, as reported by Știrile ProTV. “Let’s hope we have enough precipitation for them to start and stay in production. Of course, the start will be gradual, one reactor in a first phase and, if the water flow is sufficient, we will move on to restarting the second reactor.”
Reactivating both units would return up to 1,400 megawatts of power to the national grid, easing the heavy reliance on imports during evening peak hours.
Market Impact and Electricity Prices Across Europe
Energy experts warn that the return of nuclear generation will not instantly lower consumer bills, due to the integration of Romania’s wholesale market with wider European exchanges. Corina Murafa, an energy expert quoted by Știrile ProTV, noted that while the influx of domestic power could help shave off peak prices, regional supply deficits keep overall costs high.
Cristian Bușoi, former state secretary in the Ministry of Energy, explained at an industry forum that prices on the Day-Ahead Market align closely across European regions. Bușoi noted that Romania ranked ninth in the European Union for actual household electricity prices during the first half of 2026, though prices appear higher when adjusted for national purchasing power parity. For industrial consumers, the average price of approximately 110 euro/MWh recorded in 2025 remained slightly above the European average, while high energy costs impact the entire European economy amid conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.