Romania\u2019s Cernavod\u0103 Nuclear Power Plant has initiated the technical procedures preceding the controlled shutdown of its second nuclear reactor, the so-called Unit 2, due to the very low flow of the Danube. The river water was essential for the cooling of the pumps used by the plant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The shutdown of Unit 2, scheduled for Thursday, August 13, represents the complete closure of the facility in Cernavod\u0103. The nuclear power plant, operated by Bucharest Exchange-listed company Nuclearelectrica (BVB: SNN), shut down Unit 1<\/a> in late July for the same reason, as drought persists in the Danube basin.<\/p>\n Sorin R\u00e2nda\u0219u, deputy general manager of Romanian Waters, said that the critical threshold of -230 cm water level had been reached at Cernavod\u0103. \u201cIn the coming period, the plant will be shut down; it is inevitable. It will be shut down for about two weeks, as an estimate. In the next five days there will be no rain at all in the Danube basin, according to the data we have,\u201d R\u00e2nda\u0219u told Digi24<\/a>.<\/p>\n Previously, the state secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Cristian Bu\u0219oi, also stated that Unit 2 at Cernavod\u0103 will not be able to remain in operation throughout August.\u00a0<\/p>\n To compensate for the loss of energy, the Rovinari 4 energy unit of the Oltenia Energy Complex will be restarted and integrated into the national power grid.<\/p>\n However, without nuclear energy, which ensured roughly 20% of Romania\u2019s consumption, the country will have to reduce consumption and increase expensive energy imports, especially in the evening. The phased limitation of consumption for certain large industrial consumers, in the 7 PM and 11 PM interval, is the last measure in the order of priority and could be applied, according to the authorities. Household consumers are not targeted by the consumption limitation mechanism, the same source added.<\/p>\n However, Romania\u2019s Energy Ministry again appealed to the population, public institutions and economic operators to limit their energy consumption between 7 PM and 11 PM. A similar call<\/a> had been issued last week and echoed by prime minister Ilie Bolojan.<\/p>\n