Romania turns to Ukraine for power amid nuclear plant shutdown

Romania is turning to Ukraine for electricity as the country grapples with a power shortage following the shutdown of its first reactor at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant. The Ukrainian electricity supply is being supported by Moldova's Energocom, with Romania's state electricity company, Nuclearelectrica, leading the effort.

The partnership between Nuclearelectrica and Energocom, formalized in a memorandum of understanding in 2023, aims to ensure energy resilience and mutual support. The ongoing low water levels in the Danube River, caused by a combination of record heat and drought, has led to this unusual alliance.

Romania's Energy Ministry has already reached out to large industrial consumers on August 3, urging them to shift their production to daytime hours to mitigate the impact of the electricity shortage. If the situation worsens, mandatory shutdowns for businesses may be considered.

In response to the crisis, the Romanian army has intervened along the Danube to redirect the river's flow and secure water supply for one of Cernavodă's reactors. This effort is crucial, as the low water levels have already forced the shutdown of one of Romania's nuclear facilities, the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant.

The situation has not been limited to Romania; Hungary's Prime Minister Péter Magyar has cautioned that his country could face an energy crisis due to the same low Danube water levels. The Paks nuclear power plant, Hungary's only nuclear facility, has also been suspended due to the same issue.