Romania Shutdown NPP Due to Lack of Water

[NuclearID]

Romania’s Nuclearelectrica disconnected Cernavoda Unit 1 from the grid after severe drought pushed the Danube to an unprecedentedly low level, removing approximately 650 MW of generation.

The controlled shutdown was undertaken under severe drought procedures.

No impact to nuclear safety, personnel or the environment was reported. Unit 2 may also require intervention if river conditions continue deteriorating.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2082101425774149638

 

[NuclearID]

UDPATE: Cernavoda Unit 2 was disconnected from Romania’s grid after unprecedentedly low Danube water levels reached operational limits. Unit 1 has been offline for the same reason since July 28th.

With both reactors unavailable, approximately 1.3 GWe of capacity, normally supplying around one fifth of Romania’s electricity, is offline.

NOTE-- The shutdowns are preventive, with no reported impact on nuclear safety, personnel or the environment.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2082750282111279244

 

[Irag8er]

Danube's record low levels force shutdown of Hungary's only nuclear plant​

Danube's record low levels force shutdown of Hungary's only nuclear plant

Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia are also grappling with the effects of a series of prolonged heatwaves and low rainfall.

www.bbc.com

 

[NuclearID]

UPDATE: Romanian military divers used 180 kilograms of explosives on August 3RD to dislodge the Parjoaia rock formation near the Bala branch of the Danube. An initial underwater inspection indicated approximately four meters of rock had been removed.

The intervention is intended to redirect water toward the Old Danube and Cernavoda nuclear power plant. Debris removal, possible barge placement and dredging remain outstanding; the resulting increase in water flow has not yet been established.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2084286603439026539

@DEFCON Warning System @RiffRaff @Irag8er @Torch @Sentry

 

[NuclearID]

UPDATE: Romanian authorities prepared four rock loaded barges for controlled sinking in the Bala branch to create an artificial submerged sill and redirect more Danube water toward the Old Danube channel & Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant.

The intervention remains delayed due to strong currents that could endanger personnel or complicate the barges’ placement. Dredging is continuing separately.

Danube inflow has fallen to 1,400 cubic metres per second, matching the historic 1985 minimum, and is forecast to remain broadly stationary through August 12. No hydraulic resolution or guaranteed extension of Unit 2 operations has been established.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2084979619158020415

 

[NuclearID]

UPDATE: Romanian authorities completed the controlled sinking of all four rock loaded barges in the Bala branch, forming underwater sills intended to redirect additional Danube water toward the Old Danube channel and Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant.

The hydraulic benefit has not yet been measured. Unit 1 remains shut down while Unit 2 continues operating.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2086266183876022476

 

[NuclearID]

UPDATE: Water at Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant’s cooling pump intake rose four centimetres instead of declining by the forecast four centimetres an eight centimetre improvement relative to projections.

Plant management attributed the result to the first two rock loaded barges sunk in the Bala branch. All four barges are now installed.

Unit 2 continues operating at nominal parameters and is expected to remain operational for at least nine more days under current forecasts. Unit 1 remains shut down.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2086428771456889121

 

[NuclearID]

UPDATE: Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant began procedures preceding a possible controlled shutdown of Unit 2 due to exceptionally low Danube flow and falling water levels at the cooling water intake.

Unit 2 remains operational but could shut on August 13th if conditions remain unfavorable. Unit 1 is already offline, meaning the shutdown would temporarily remove all Romanian nuclear generation from the grid.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2087150074220445834

 

[NuclearID]

Romania’s Constanța Chamber of Commerce issued force majeure certificates covering Nuclearelectrica’s electricity supply contracts following severe hydrological drought, Cernavoda Unit 1’s controlled shutdown & the company’s resulting inability to meet contracted deliveries from its own generation since July 27th.

Nuclearelectrica said deteriorating cooling water conditions could also require Cernavoda Unit 2 to shut down.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2087478953514516510