Central Europe Drought: Danube Hits Record Low, Hungary's Sole Nuclear Plant to Halt Operations

Central Europe is grappling with a severe drought that has pushed the Danube River to its lowest recorded levels. This environmental crisis has forced Hungary's only nuclear power plant, Paks, to initiate a complete shutdown for the first time since its operation began 44 years ago.

Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced that the plant, which supplies nearly half of Hungary's electricity, has already reduced its output by more than half. He stated that a full shutdown is imminent, potentially occurring within days, and could last for weeks. The Paks plant, built by the Soviet Union, requires river water for cooling its four reactors. Magyar explained that when water levels drop below a certain point, the plant must cease operations. He noted that the Danube has only risen in August three times in the past two decades, and current projections show water levels in the Paks region could fall to historically low figures.

To mitigate the impact on the national grid, the Hungarian government has requested that large, energy-intensive industries voluntarily reduce their electricity consumption, particularly during the evening peak hours. In a further effort to conserve power, the Prime Minister's party has proposed suspending parliamentary sessions scheduled for the upcoming Monday and Tuesday. Additionally, all government institutions have been ordered to switch off decorative lighting by Monday.

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If the water level drops to minus 134 centimeters, the nuclear power plant must shut down completely.