Romanian authorities have approved urgent measures to restore water access for the cooling systems at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant, which remains offline amid historically low Danube levels. The measures include riverbed dredging, controlled water releases from dams and the deployment of high-capacity pumps.
Emergency measures approved
Romania’s National Committee for Emergency Situations approved new measures on Saturday to raise water levels in the Danube and ensure the plant’s cooling needs are met, the government press office announced.
The country has declared a state of emergency for the whole of August because of reduced electricity generation.
Emergency dredging will be carried out in the Danube near the plant. A breakwater will also be built along the river’s old channel to divert water towards the intake point for the cooling systems.
Water to be released from dams
Hydroelectric power producer Hidroelectrica will begin releasing water from dams on the Olt River on Saturday for five days. The move is intended to supplement the Danube’s flow and generate additional electricity.
High-capacity pumps will also be deployed, if necessary, to maintain the water level required for the plant to operate.
Source: CNA
