Bulgaria reduces by 12% the production of the Kozlodui nuclear power plant, due to the low level of the Danube

IPN.md

21 August 2026
13:27

Bulgaria has announced that it will reduce the capacity of its only nuclear power plant, Kozlodui, by 12% starting from Friday, due to the low level of the Danube. The measure was announced by the Ministry of Energy in Sofia, and thus Bulgaria joins other European countries that are reducing their nuclear energy production due to the drought affecting the continent, reports IPN.

According to the Ministry, the capacity of one of the two operating reactors will be reduced by approximately 120MW. The power plant, which provides over a third of the country’s electricity, relies on the waters of the Danube for cooling the reactors.

This is the first time in the 52 years of the unit’s operation, when production is reduced due to extreme weather and hydrological conditions.

The situation in Bulgaria comes after Romania was forced to shut down both reactors of the Cernavodă power plant, the first on July 28 and the second on August 13, and Hungary significantly reduced the production of the Paks power plant since the end of July. In the meantime, the Hungarian Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, announced that the turbines will gradually be put back into operation starting Sunday, August 23, with a return to maximum capacity estimated for the following week.

The hydrological drought is not limited to the Danube basin only. In Switzerland, the Beznau nuclear power plant was shut down in June due to the high water temperatures of the Aare River, while France shut down several reactors due to the heatwave.

Beznau Bulgaria Cernavoda Danube drought Europe Foreign Affairs France Hungary Kozlodui Nuclear power plant paks Romania Switzerland

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The landfill fire in Orhei continues to burn

by Iana Josu 21.08.2026

After more than 24 hours, the firefighters’ intervention to extinguish the fire at the garbage dump in Orhei continues. According to the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, the burning occurs both on the surface of the waste and in the layers underneath, which complicates the complete extinguishing of the fire, reports IPN.

Throughout the night, the firefighters continued their efforts to locate and extinguish the fire sources, and monitored the area to prevent the spread of the fire. IGSU mentions that the affected area is approximately 1,500 square meters, out of a total of around five thousand square meters.

To reach the hidden hotspots, firefighters work together with local authorities and heavy machinery operators. The waste is unpacked and scattered, and the areas where burning continues are identified and extinguished. At the same time, water supply, transportation, and compaction of the waste mass are carried out.

Three special vehicles and 13 employees of the IGSU are participating in the intervention. Two bulldozers, four dump trucks, and two tractor tankers are being used for mechanized work. Eight more people are involved on site, operating the machinery and performing auxiliary tasks. According to the IGSU, the situation is under control.

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Bulgaria reduces by 12% the production of the Kozlodui nuclear power plant, due to the low level of the Danube

IPN.md

21 August 2026
13:27

This is the first time in the 52 years of the unit’s operation, when production is reduced due to extreme weather and hydrological conditions.

Beznau Bulgaria Cernavoda Danube drought Europe Foreign Affairs France Hungary Kozlodui Nuclear power plant paks Romania Switzerland

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Bulgaria reduces by 12% the production of the Kozlodui nuclear power plant, due to the low level of the Danube

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The number of tourists accommodated in Moldova has increased by 15.8% in the first half of the year

by Iana Josu 21.08.2026

The number of those visiting the Republic of Moldova is increasing. The accommodation units in the country have hosted over 257 thousand tourists in the first six months of the year, 15.8% more than in the same period last year. According to authorities, most foreign tourists came from Ukraine and Romania, reports IPN.

The Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization mentions that over 159 thousand of the tourists were non-residents, accounting for 62% of the total number. The top countries of origin included the United States of America, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Israel, Poland and the United Kingdom.

Hotels and motels have recorded a nearly 24% increase in the number of tourists, while tourist and agrotourist guesthouses have hosted about 11% more visitors compared to the same period last year.

During the period from January to June, tourists spent approximately 700 thousand nights in accommodation units, 4.6% more than in the same period of the previous year. The number of accommodation places increased by 1%, reaching 79 thousand, and their occupancy rate reached 28.4%.

The data was presented by MDED, which mentions that these results show that Moldova is becoming increasingly attractive to tourists, and the sector is consolidating its role in the development of the local and national economy.

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