Romania's National Power System has sufficient resources to offset the electricity production deficit resulting from the shutdown of Unit 2 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, including wind generation, the Rovinari 4 power unit and hydropower output, the Ministry of Energy said on Wednesday evening.

Unit 2 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant will begin a controlled shutdown on Thursday due to the current hydrological conditions.

'Estimates show that electricity demand at national level will be fully covered by alternative sources and imports. The National Power System has several resources available to compensate for the production deficit resulting from the shutdown of Unit 2, and these will be used depending on actual system developments and hydrological conditions in the coming period. Over the next seven days, forecasts also indicate a contribution from wind generation, with an estimated average output of 525 MW, a peak of 1,560 MW and a minimum of 100 MW. Depending on weather conditions, this generation could make a substantial contribution to meeting electricity demand,' the ministry said in a press release.

The National Power System also has access to the Rovinari 4 generating unit of the Oltenia Energy Complex, with an installed capacity of 330 MW currently kept in reserve, as well as at least 300 MW available from Hidroelectrica, within technical limits and subject to available water resources.

'These resources, together with wind generation and other options available within the system, allow the National Power Dispatcher to compensate for the production shortfall caused by the shutdown of Unit 2, without anticipating at this stage the activation of all reserve capacities,' the ministry said.

Forecasts for the weekend indicate a possible improvement in hydrological conditions, with measures to be adjusted depending on the evolution of the Danube's water flow, electricity generation and consumption.

The ministry also noted that Romania's National Power System has cross-border interconnection capacity of about 4,000 MW, allowing electricity imports. Transmission system operators across Europe are aware of the regional energy crisis and are coordinating efforts to ensure security of electricity supply for all power systems affected by current weather conditions.

The National Power Dispatcher is continuously assessing the situation and deciding how to deploy available resources according to the needs of the National Power System.

'The Ministry of Energy reiterates its call for responsible electricity consumption, particularly between 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., in order to reduce pressure on the system during peak demand hours,' the press release added.

According to Transelectrica data, Romania's electricity consumption stood at 6,662 MW at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, while domestic generation totalled 5,908 MW.

Unit 1 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant was taken offline in a controlled shutdown and disconnected from the National Power System on July 28 due to the low water level of the Danube.

The Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant operates two 700-MWe units fuelled by natural uranium and using heavy water as moderator and coolant. With both units in operation, the plant accounts for about 20% of Romania's dispatchable electricity generation. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Andreea Marinescu; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)