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SN Nuclearelectrica Shuts 2nd Reactor at Romanian Nuclear Plant

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SN Nuclearelectrica SA, Romania's state-controlled nuclear energy company, started shutting down reactor 2 at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant on Thursday morning due falling water levels in the Danube River.

As reported byearlier this week, the company shut the first reactor in late July and was monitoring the second unit as the river's flow dropped and became less able to provide sufficient process water and cooling water.

The National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management, INHGA, said the flowrate in the Danube remained at a record low of 1,400 cubic meters per second on Tuesday. This is down from the historical August average of 3,900 cubic meters per second.

"The decision to perform a controlled shutdown of Unit 2 is driven by the significant and ongoing decline in the Danube River's water level," Nuclearelectrica said in a statement on Thursday.

"The controlled shutdown of Unit 2 is being carried out in accordance with procedures for such situations, based on strict monitoring of safety margins, equipment, and the INHGA forecast for the coming days."

The restart of the units will be determined by Danube water-level forecasts, the company said. The company will make an announcement once the restart takes place, it said.

The Cernavoda plant operates two 706-megawatt CANDU-6 pressurized heavy-water reactors which generate about 20% of Romania's power output, according to a Reuters report on Thursday.

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