Historic low water levels hit European power production; several nuclear plants partially shut

Record low water levels in the Danube River are severely affecting power production across Central Europe, forcing nuclear and hydropower plants to operate at reduced capacity or shut down entirely. The crisis is particularly acute in Hungary, where the Paks nuclear power plant has already halved its output.

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar warned that Paks could face a complete shutdown within days, coinciding with a severe heatwave that is increasing electricity demand. Nuclear plants rely on vast amounts of water for cooling. Magyar has urged major industrial consumers, such as battery and car manufacturers, to voluntarily reduce their power consumption during peak evening hours and has asked citizens to conserve electricity.

In Romania, water levels in the Danube have fallen to one-third of the July average. Both reactors at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant, which normally supply about one-fifth of the country's electricity, have been taken offline. Meanwhile, Austria's hydropower plants along the Danube are operating at 30 percent below their usual capacity due to the drought and reduced glacial meltwater, according to broadcaster ORF.

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The power plant can be completely shut down on Thursday or Friday, at the same time as the country is hit by a heatwave.