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Romania secures nine more days of nuclear output after sinking barges to redirect Danube flow

· Environment ROUHUN
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Romania has secured at least nine more days of operation for its sole working nuclear reactor after sinking stone-filled barges to redirect the drought-stricken Danube toward the Cernavoda plant, following earlier detonations to destroy a riverbed rock outcrop.

Acting Defence Minister Radu Miruță said the water level rose 8 centimetres at Cernavoda, with 4 cm gained in the past 24 hours alone. The energy ministry blew up a rock obstruction, dredged the riverbed and sank four barges to push water toward the Bala branch. A second barge was submerged late Friday to complete the diversion.

Acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said current levels could sustain the reactor for four to five days even if flows drop by up to 3 cm daily. Unit 1, which shut down in late July, remains offline. The two reactors normally supply a fifth of Romania's electricity. Hungary has also halted its Paks nuclear plant as Danube levels stay at record lows.

Story development

  1. Romania begins shutdown of last operating nuclear reactor as Danube levels fall again
  2. Romania secures nine more days of nuclear output after sinking barges to redirect Danube flow
  3. Romania sinks second barge in Danube to redirect water toward nuclear plant
  4. Romania blasts Danube rock to divert water to nuclear plant as drought cripples energy output

Covered by 4 outlets across 4 countries

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The reporting this story is built on

agerpres.ro ROU Miruță: Opt centimetri câștigați la Cernavodă; cel puțin alte 9 zile pentru Unitatea 2dw.com DEU Румыния: Реактор проработает 9 дней из-за маловодья в Дунаеindependent.co.uk GBR Romania issues update on nuclear reactor after redirecting flow of Danube river

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