Romania Acts Quickly to Submerge Barges for Nuclear Plant Stability
WHO:
ABC News - Romania's Acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced a nationwide state of alert in the energy sector.
ABC News - Romeo Urjan is the director of the Cernavoda nuclear plant.
WHAT:
ABC News - Romania is sinking four barges laden with rock into the Danube River to redirect water toward a nuclear power plant.
AP News - The Cernavoda nuclear plant accounts for about 20% of Romania's electricity generation when fully operational.
AP News - The Danube's water flow has fallen to 1,400 cubic meters per second, less than a third of what is typical for this time of year.
ABC News - The Danube's water level decreased about two centimeters (0.7 inches) from one day to the next.
WHERE:
ABC News - The barges are being sunk in the Danube River near the Bala Canal.
ABC News - The Cernavoda nuclear plant is located approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) downstream from the barges.
WHEN:
ABC News - The sinking of the barges is expected to last until Friday.
AP News - A reactor at the Cernavoda nuclear plant was forced to shut down last week.
WHY:
ABC News - Extreme heatwaves and low rainfall have led to record-low water levels in the Danube, threatening the operation of the nuclear plant's second reactor.
AP News - Authorities are implementing emergency measures to maintain water flow to prevent energy shortfalls.
HOW:
ABC News - The military blasted rock from the river using explosives to load the barges.
AP News - The submerged barges will create an underwater barrier to redirect water down the river's main channel.
(UPDATED August 7, 2026 08:57 UTC)
Romania's Acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has announced a nationwide state of alert in the energy sector as the country sinks four barges laden with rock into the Danube River to redirect water toward the Cernavoda nuclear plant, which generates about 20% of Romania's electricity when fully operational. This action comes in response to extreme heatwaves and low rainfall that have caused the Danube's water flow to drop to less than a third of typical levels, threatening the operation of the plant's second reactor. Authorities are implementing emergency measures, including using explosives to blast rock from the river, with the sinking of the barges expected to last until Friday.