Romanian authorities resumed operations for the sinking of four rock-filled barges to increase the flow of the Danube toward the Cernavodă Power Plant on Thursday, August 6.

Scheduled for a day earlier, the sinking was postponed because of strong currents. After they were filled, the four barges were aligned in a convoy and transported to the entrance of the Bala branch.

Experts say the sinking of the barges is necessary to create an obstacle under the surface of the Danube so that more water flows toward the Old Danube branch and, ultimately, reaches the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant to cool the reactors.

“There were problems related to the currents; the barges needed to be prepared, the aeration chambers of the barges had to be emptied, because it had been very hot and some of them had not had the same arrival timing. And then they all had to be prepared, somehow aligned in the same way,” Ana Maria Agiu, spokesperson for Romanian Waters, told News.ro.

Agiu specified that the sinking will be carried out through controlled flooding. The first barge started sinking at 3 PM and will be completely underwater in several hours.

“Yesterday the specialists informed that the operations could take around six hours. The basic idea would be for them to be completed before nightfall. That is, for the operation to be finalized by the evening,” Agiu emphasized.

The spokesperson confirmed that authorities expect water levels near the nuclear plant to increase after the sinking of the barges. “Even a few centimeters is very important. Every additional centimeter gained is beneficial for the operation of the power plant,” Agiu also said.

The sinking of the barges follows dredging works and controlled explosions that slowed the drop in the Danube’s water level. However, questions remain regarding the long-term sustainability of the operation of the Cernavodă nuclear power plant.

“No one can guarantee the operation of the nuclear power plant for an indefinite period, but all the efforts being made are aimed at extending the term as much as possible,” said DSU Romanian Waters representative Sorin Rândașu, according to Libertatea.

radu@romania-insider.com

(Photo: Apele Române Facebook Page)