Romania Secures Nine More Days for Nuclear Reactor by Redirecting Danube Flow

The EU nation has already declared a state of energy emergency for the whole of August. To redirect water flows, the energy ministry blew up a rock obstruction, dredged the river bed and sank four rock-filled barges to create a dike, reporting that this raised water levels around the reactor by 4 centimetres (1.57 inches). The blast, carried out by the Romanian navy last Monday, sent a column of water skyward.

Based on forecasts available at the moment, this development allows for the necessary conditions for the reactor to function for at least the next nine days, the ministry said on Sunday after sinking the rock-filled barges. The level of the Danube at its Romanian entry remained at a record low on Monday, but the state water management agency has said it expected it to increase from August 15 as rain further upstream makes its way down.