Romanian Navy Blasts Danube Rock Formations to Save Cernavodă Nuclear Plant

The scale of the crisis is visible in the riverbeds. The average water level of the Danube has reached 23cm, which is 10cm lower than the previous record low set in 2018. With the Danube’s flow reduced to roughly one-third of its normal volume, Romania has already seen one reactor at the Cernavodă plant stop operating.

Romanian Navy Intervenes at Cernavodă

To prevent further shutdowns, the Romanian government deployed the navy to physically alter the river’s path. On August 3, the navy blasted rock formations to ensure more water reaches the channels supplying the Cernavodă nuclear plant. Reuters reported that a huge column of water soared into the sky with an explosion, describing the action as a measure showing the crisis in Europe where concerns over power production are growing due to heatwaves and drought. The operation included installing underwater dams in the Bala tributary to force more volume into the main stem of the Danube.

We have taken measures by installing underwater dams in the Bala tributary so that a significant portion of the flow flows through the main stream of the Danube. Marcel Neculae, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Romanian Navy

Despite these emergency efforts, the Romanian government has declared the month of August as a power emergency period and is increasing electricity imports from neighboring countries.

Power Grid Crisis in Hungary and Serbia

In Hungary, the Paks nuclear power plant, which typically produces about 40% of the country’s electricity demand, has seen its production drop to the 10% level. The plant stopped operation for the first time in 44 years because it uses river water for cooling. Prime Minister Péter Orbán stated on August 3, The power production of the Paks nuclear power plant will stop tomorrow (3rd). The power grid and public services, as well as all citizens, will have to bear a great burden.

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However, Hungary later announced that the shutdown could be delayed by one or two days due to voluntary electricity consumption reductions by companies and households. Prime Minister Péter Orbán noted that electricity demand decreased by 700㎽ the previous day following the government’s request, and expressed expectation that reduced output operations could continue until August 4. To manage the shortage, the Hungarian government is reviewing the possibility of rolling blackouts in addition to measures restricting electricity supply to large companies.

Serbia is also experiencing power disruptions, with the output of two hydroelectric power plants—which supply one-quarter of the country’s total electricity—falling to the 20-30% level.

Rhine River Water Levels and German Economic Impact

The Rhine River, which flows north-south through Germany’s western industrial zone, has also been hitting record lows. This has led to the suspension of passenger and cruise ship operations and the partial paralysis of inland water transport.

The industrial impact is significant; the steel company ThyssenKrupp suspended the transport of raw materials to its largest plant in Duisburg using its own vessels starting last month. Stefan Gille, the German Minister of Transport, described the low water levels as a very serious situation and announced an emergency meeting for August 6.

Regional governments in various parts of Germany, including Lower Saxony in the lower reaches of the Rhine, have appealed for water conservation, prohibiting the watering of gardens and farmland during specific time slots.

Environmental Minister Karsten Schneider stated that 600억㎥ of water have disappeared over the last 25 years due to climate change. Additionally, projections suggest that Germany’s economic growth rate for the third quarter of this year could drop by 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points.

Agricultural economist David Holosi noted that such climate patterns have become commonplace since 2020, citing a lack of summer rainfall and a decrease in the amount of water from melting snow and rivers that permeates the soil during winter.