Romania Blasts Rock to Redirect Danube Flow to Nuclear Plant

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(Bloomberg) — Romania’s military took unprecedented action to boost water flows toward the country’s sole nuclear power plant by detonating a rock formation in the Danube River.

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The Black Sea country has already shut down one of its two reactors at the Cernavoda station as low water levels in the Danube due to a drought prevent proper cooling of equipment. 

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The decline in power output has prompted the government to ask companies and citizens to lower consumption, with the nation’s two largest car producers Renault SA’s Dacia and Ford Otosan already halting production until late August, acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said. 

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The army used 180 kilograms (396 pounds) of explosives in a controlled blast to remove a rock constricting a branch of the river, interim Defense Minister Radu Miruta told reporters on Monday. The aim was to redirect water into the main channel feeding the plant to avert a shutdown of the remaining reactor after Thursday, he said.

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The procedure also includes a move to sink four barges filled with rocks and other material by Wednesday to create an artificial blockade and send water toward Cernavoda.

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“We are very close to reaching the minimum water levels that allow the safe cooling of the nuclear equipment and we’re doing everything possible to boost the flows that go to the nuclear plant,” Miruta said. 

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Romania has introduced a state of alert in the energy sector throughout August as power production declines substantially because of the drought and record-low water level in the Danube. The country, which relies on a mix of power sources including solar, wind and nuclear, currently imports about 2,000 megawatts every day to cover its consumption, especially during peak hours and at higher costs, according to Bolojan.

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“Some companies and public institutions have responded to our plea and are voluntarily taking measures to lower consumption,” Bolojan told reporters Monday. “We’re also preparing the needed framework to limit the power consumption of large companies, as a contingency measure in case the situation worsens.”

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Upstream in neighboring Hungary, Prime Minister Peter Magyar told reporters that water levels were sufficient to keep one of the four blocks running at half-power for another day at least at the country’s sole nuclear power station.

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Over the weekend, the government was preparing for the 2,000 megawatt plant to be shut down by Monday, but later said that forecasts for water levels have grown slightly more optimistic even if the situation remains tense.

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“The coming five days are going to be the most critical,” he said, with temperatures expected to peak at 42C (107.6F) during the week.

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—With assistance from Thomas Escritt.

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(Updates with comments from interim prime minister in third paragraph, Hungary in nineth.)

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