The Danube reached a record low level at Cernavodă / Dredging works for the nuclear power plant halted

On Sunday, September 20, the Danube fell at Cernavodă to a record level of -255 centimeters, the lowest level recorded during the period of modern measurements. At the same time, dredging work intended to ensure the water needed to cool the nuclear power plant’s reactors was halted, without the authorities officially explaining the decision.

On Monday, the river level rose by one centimeter, but the flow at the country’s entry point was approximately 1,550 cubic meters per second, far below the September average of 3,800 cubic meters per second. The previous record at Cernavodă was -247 centimeters, recorded in 2003.

In August, when the level was approximately 40 centimeters higher, the authorities deployed a high-capacity dredger and equipment belonging to Romanian Waters. The National Committee for Emergency Situations subsequently decided to contract any available dredger and provided for work along several kilometers downstream from Cernavodă.

The AFDJ dredger ended its contract at the end of August, while Romanian Waters’ equipment did not operate during the period when the historic lows were recorded. A government source cited a lack of replacement staff over the weekend. The work has not been completed, and continuing it would require funding and a new government decision. The Ministry of Transport and the Government did not respond to News.ro’s questions.