Danube in Romania Hits Record Low, Raising Energy Alarms

The Danube in Romania has fallen to a new historic low, with water flow down to 1,400 cubic meters per second. That level is expected to stay stable at least until August 12, according to Ana Maria Agiu, spokeswoman for the national water authority. She called the steady flow relatively good news, but said forecasts beyond that are difficult.

The low water guarantees another three to four days of operation at the Cernavoda nuclear plant, the country's only nuclear station. Romania's government declared an energy alert on July 31 as drought and the shrinking Danube cut electricity production. One of the plant's two reactors has already been stopped, and large industrial users have agreed to voluntarily reduce evening power use.