Energy Alert in Romania
Citizens, companies, and Romanian government agencies are reducing their energy consumption.
Leyla Cheamil, 04.08.2026, 14:00
Romania is under an energy alert declared by the government for the month of August, amid a severe decline in domestic electricity production. This is caused by extreme drought and low water levels in rivers, particularly the Danube, which are expected to continue falling in the coming days. The acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan stated that the Danube’s flow rate, which is less than half of normal levels, could lead to the risk of the second unit at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant (in the southeast) being shut down.
Under these circumstances, maintaining the only operational reactor remains a priority. Consequently, authorities have taken steps to increase the river’s flow rate in the branch that feeds the plant. The military and specialists carried out controlled detonations of a massive rock formation to partially divert the water’s course, thereby increasing the flow to the plant and safeguarding the reactor’s operation. According to the acting Defense Minister Radu Miruță, regardless of the ultimate consequences for the plant, the removal of this rock was necessary both for navigation and for dredging the Old Danube. Meanwhile, the acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced new measures to ensure the necessary electricity supply in light of the crisis caused by the prolonged drought and the extended heat wave.
Amid the energy alert, the government secured a commitment on Monday from major industrial consumers to voluntarily reduce their consumption during peak hours. Automotive giants Dacia and Ford have already shut down their production lines. “Companies are in different situations. Some can reduce consumption by smaller amounts, others by larger amounts; some can effectively halt production, while others cannot stop at all; some are undergoing various inspection and maintenance activities during August, so the situations vary greatly. What’s important is the response we’ve received and the signal from these companies that they are aware of this reality,” the acting prime minister stated. He also noted that, should the voluntary reductions prove insufficient, the National Energy System dispatcher will be able to impose consumption limits on certain large consumers.
The government is preparing an emergency decree as a contingency measure. This will allow the state to cap or interrupt electricity supply to large consumers, with 24 hours’ advance notice. According to the interim prime minister, Romania faces a significant energy shortage in the evening, between 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., which it covers with expensive imports, especially since other countries in the region are facing the same problems. Ilie Bolojan once again called on citizens, government institutions, and companies to voluntarily reduce their energy consumption as the primary way to address the current energy crisis. (LS)
