Romania started importing electricity from Ukraine

Romanian state-owned company Nuclearelectrica has started purchasing electricity from Ukraine through the Moldovan supplier Energocom. The imports are meant to compensate for a deficit caused by the shutdown of the first unit of the Cernavodă nuclear power plant.

The company did not disclose volumes, prices, or delivery periods. Nuclearelectrica stated that Ukrainian electricity will help mitigate the impact of generation deficit on the Romanian energy market.

The first unit of Cernavodă was shut down in a controlled manner and disconnected from the Romanian power system on the morning of July 28. The cause was the unprecedentedly low level of the Danube River, triggered by severe drought.

Thus, this was not another scheduled maintenance campaign, but a preventive shutdown in line with procedures applied during critically low river levels.

Nuclearelectrica explained that when the Danube's level approaches operational safety limits, measures must be taken to maintain necessary safety margins. These may include shutting down one or both units.

The company stressed that placing a unit in a safe shutdown condition poses no threat to personnel, the public, or the environment.

Electricity purchases facilitated with Moldova's involvement

The purchase of Ukrainian electricity was arranged with the support of Moldovan state energy company Energocom. Energocom has long collaborated with Nuclearelectrica and the parties signed a memorandum of understanding on energy resilience and mutual support in 2023.

The Romanian company highlighted that the current supplies reflect a balanced, reciprocal partnership. Previously Romania and Nuclearelectrica helped ensure Moldova's energy security, and now Energocom is helping cover deficits in the Romanian system.

Nuclearelectrica emphasized that the challenging situation in Romania and neighboring countries, caused by extremely low Danube levels, underscores the importance of long-term partnerships and stable trade relations between energy companies.

Sources: Nuclearelectrica, Bucharest Stock Exchange