Danube River in Romania. Photo: Shutterstock Romania has launched an emergency engineering operation on the Danube River to safeguard the country's energy supply, as prolonged drought and record-low water levels threaten the cooling system of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, which generates around one-fifth of the nation's electricity.
Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced that the government has declared a state of alert nationwide for the month of August, with exceptional measures in place, including switching off street lighting in major cities after 24:0, with the exception of hospital grounds, underpasses, and busy central areas.
(ROMANIAN NAVAL FORCES / FB)
The operation comes as several countries along the Danube, including Hungary and Serbia, face growing pressure on electricity production due to exceptionally low river levels caused by extreme heat and prolonged dry weather.
According to the Romanian Armed Forces, more than 100 soldiers and 16 specialized military vehicles were deployed to the Bala branch of the Danube to improve water flow toward the Old Danube branch, which supplies cooling water to the nuclear facility.
The military said explosive ordnance disposal divers and engineering units carried out controlled explosions to completely remove a rocky threshold that had become exposed as water levels dropped.
WATCH VIDEO (ROMANIAN NAVAL FORCES / FB)
Romanian authorities said the controlled demolition redirects more water toward the Old Danube branch, helping maintain sufficient cooling water for the plant's reactors.
Earlier, one of the plant's reactors was shut down because of the critically low water levels. Officials warned that without additional water flow, the remaining operating reactor could also face disruption.
Defense Minister Radu Miruță has today, August 4, 2026, made the following announcement: "Good news: the water level has increased by 2 cm compared to the previous day at the Cernavoda nuclear plant.
Taking into account that the forecast indicates a decrease of 2cm, we can say that yesterday's operation has brought a net gain of at least 4cm, meaning another 2 days of operation only from the stages so far. Congratulations ANAR for the solution!"
The drought is affecting energy production across Central and Eastern Europe. In neighboring Hungary, the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, which normally supplies nearly half of the country's electricity production, was forced to reduce output due to insufficient cooling water from the Danube.
Authorities have urged industries and households to reduce electricity consumption to ease pressure on the national grid.
In an announcement made last night, August 3, Prime Ninsiter Magyar Péter said: "Good news from the command center: The power grid is stable. The last Paks turbine is operational. Consumption is significantly lower than expected, thanks to the Hungarian companies and people. The most critical days are coming."
Serbia is also experiencing major impacts, with the Iron Gate hydroelectric plant on the Danube reportedly operating at only around one-fifth of its normal capacity.
Meteorologists forecast continued hot and dry weather across the region, raising concerns that Europe's second-longest river could remain at critically low levels for weeks, prolonging pressure on transport, industry, and electricity generation.