Bulgaria to curb nuclear output due to low Danube river levels

Bulgaria announced on Thursday that it will reduce the output of one of its two operating reactors at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant by 120MW, a move prompted by an unprecedented and critical drop in water levels in the Danube river, according to the energy ministry. The Kozloduy plant, which generates over a third of Bulgaria's electricity, relies on the Danube's waters for cooling, making this reduction the first of its kind since the plant's inception 52 years ago.

Romania and Hungary have also recently cut their nuclear power output due to low Danube levels; Romania completely shut down its Cernavoda plant on August 13, while Hungary has been working to keep its Paks plant operational with measures like constructing a riverbed sill and submerging barges to raise water levels. The Kozloduy plant's two reactors, each with a capacity of 1,000MW, are expected to return to full power generation next week.

The drought across Europe, intensified by human-induced climate change, has raised concerns about the future of nuclear power generation in the region.