Romanian army blasts rock in Danube to help nuclear power plant

• 2 hours ago (2026-08-04)
• David Flin

Europe 1180 Nuclear 742

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The Romanian army detonated a rock formation on the Danube River on 3 August to divert water to the Cernavoda nuclear power plant.

Military engineers and divers used 180 kg of explosives to remove the Parjoaia cliff face. The operation will slow current speeds in the Bala branch near Izvoarele and will direct more flow into the Old Danube towards Cernavoda.

Severe drought has threatened water supplies used for cooling at Cernavoda Unit 2, resulting in significantly reduced generation.

Ilie Bolojan, Romania’s Acting Prime Minister, said that the reactor shutting down would cut national electricity production by roughly 20 per cent. Authorities have said that the blast is likely to ensure sufficient water level only for the short term, but that even a single extra day of operation would more than offset the costs of intervention.