The Romanian government on Thursday urged households and businesses to reduce electricity consumption between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. until the end of the month, to ease pressure on the power system during the ongoing heatwave. “Keeping electricity consumption as low as possible during the evening hours will not affect essential services, such as healthcare,” Romania’s interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said. A prolonged heatwave and record-low water levels on the Danube have forced Romania to restrict water use for agricultural irrigation, disrupting river transport, tourism and the energy sector. The authorities have also shut down one reactor at the country’s only nuclear power plant, at Cernavoda, which relies on Danube water for cooling. Low water levels on the Danube are expected to continue affecting operations at the Cernavoda nuclear plant at least until mid-August.