Hungary's Paks nuclear plant cuts output due to high Danube temperatures

Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant has reduced its electricity generation by 243 MW from one of its four reactors. The measure was taken due to elevated water temperatures in the Danube River, a direct consequence of the record-breaking heatwave affecting the country.

The plant operator, MVM group, announced that the cooling water temperature downstream of the station reached 29.7 degrees Celsius on Saturday morning. This reading surpassed the intervention threshold of 29.5°C, prompting immediate action.

Engineers at the Paks facility began reducing the output of Reactor 3 at 2:00 PM GMT (5:00 PM local time). The plant, located on the Danube, relies on the river for cooling its nuclear reactors. High ambient temperatures significantly impact the river's water temperature, necessitating such operational adjustments to maintain safety standards.

The heatwave gripping Hungary has led to record temperatures across the country. This situation highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants, to extreme weather events. The reduction in output, while necessary for operational safety, could have minor implications for the national energy supply during a period of high demand due to the heat.