{
  "id": 768636,
  "title": "Romania shuts down nuclear plant due to low level of drought-hit Danube",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-shuts-down-nuclear-plant-due-to-low-level-of-drought-hit",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-13T13:28:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RFI English",
    "slug": "rfi-english",
    "url": "https://www.rfi.fr/en/environment/20260813-romania-shuts-down-nuclear-plant-due-to-low-level-of-drought-hit-danube"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Romania has shut down its only nuclear plant due to record low water levels in the River Danube, which is used for cooling. The national nuclear energy company confirmed the shutdown, citing the low water levels.\n\nThe drought affecting Europe has caused the Danube River to reach record lows, according to Toronto Sun and Le Monde English. The plant, located in Cernavoda, accounts for about 20% of Romania's electricity generation when fully operational, Associated Press reported.\n\nThe shutdown of the plant, which has two reactors, has forced Romania to import more electricity, Balkan Insight said. The country's Ministry of Energy estimates that the electricity supply will be covered by alternative sources and imports.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Romania begins shutdown of nuclear plant’s 2nd reactor amid low water levels on Danube River",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-begins-shutdown-of-nuclear-plants-2nd-reactor-amid-low-water",
        "published": "2026-08-13T10:23:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Balkan Insight",
        "title": "Romania Shuts Nuclear Reactor on Danube as Power Crisis Deepens",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-shuts-nuclear-reactor-on-danube-as-power-crisis-deepens",
        "published": "2026-08-13T10:41:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Falling Danube flow forces shutdown of Romania’s sole nuclear plant",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/falling-danube-flow-forces-shutdown-of-romanias-sole-nuclear-plant",
        "published": "2026-08-13T12:30:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Romania shuts only nuclear plant as heat causes huge drop in Danube River level",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-shuts-only-nuclear-plant-as-heat-causes-huge-drop-in-danube",
        "published": "2026-08-13T16:05:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tempo.co English",
        "title": "Low Danube Water Levels Force Shutdown of Romania's Cernavoda Nuclear Plant",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/low-danube-water-levels-force-shutdown-of-romanias-cernavoda-nuclear",
        "published": "2026-08-13T16:47:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Romania begins shutdown of nuclear plant's 2nd reactor amid low water levels on Danube River",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-begins-shutdown-of-nuclear-plants-2nd-reactor-amid-low-water-788830",
        "published": "2026-08-13T16:58:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Romania shuts nuclear plant as Danube drops",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-shuts-nuclear-plant-as-danube-drops",
        "published": "2026-08-13T18:54:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Romania shuts nuclear plant, Hungary dams dry Danube River",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-shuts-nuclear-plant-hungary-dams-dry-danube-river",
        "published": "2026-08-13T21:21:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Romania shuts nuclear plant as Danube drops",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-shuts-nuclear-plant-as-danube-drops-815033",
        "published": "2026-08-13T21:54:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Romania shuts only nuclear plant as heat causes huge drop in Danube River level",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-shuts-only-nuclear-plant-as-heat-causes-huge-drop-in-danube-810614",
        "published": "2026-08-13T21:54:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}