The Romanian army has taken unprecedented measures to increase water flows to the country’s only nuclear power plant by detonating a rock formation in the Danube on July 3, 2026.
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The Black Sea country has already shut down one of its two reactors at the Cernavoda station because the low water levels in the Danube due to drought prevent adequate cooling of the equipment.
The drop in energy production has prompted the government to ask companies and citizens to reduce consumption: the country’s two largest car manufacturers, Dacia and Ford Otosan of Renault SA, have already halted production until the end of August, said interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.
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The army used 180 kilograms of explosives in a controlled blast to remove a rock that was narrowing a branch of the river, interim Defense Minister Radu Miruta told journalists. The goal was to redirect water into the main channel that feeds the plant to avoid shutting down the remaining reactor after Thursday.
The procedure also involves sinking four barges filled with rocks and other material by Wednesday to create an artificial dam and send water towards Cernavoda.
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