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Hungary shuts down sole nuclear plant for first time due to historic Danube low
🇦🇷 Argentina /Energy & Infrastructure

Hungary shuts down sole nuclear plant for first time due to historic Danube low

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Hungary's sole nuclear power plant in Paks has been shut down for the first time in its 44-year history due to historically low water levels in the Danube River.
  • The plant is operating at less than half capacity, and a full shutdown is expected within days as water levels continue to drop.
  • The situation, exacerbated by a prolonged drought and high temperatures, poses a risk to Hungary's energy supply and has led to calls for voluntary electricity consumption reductions.

Hungary's only nuclear power plant, Paks, has ceased operations for the first time in its 44-year history, a consequence of the Danube River's historically low water levels. Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced Friday that the plant might remain offline for several weeks.

The Paks plant, located south of Budapest, is currently producing less than half its usual output, generating 965 megawatts instead of the standard 2,000. The facility relies on Danube water for cooling its reactors, but the diminishing water level has strained the capacity of its pumps.

The plant uses Danube water to cool its reactors, but the low level has tested the capacity of the pumps to bring water to the plant.

— N/AExplaining the technical reason for the shutdown.

Magyar indicated that further reductions in electricity production were imminent, with a complete shutdown anticipated by Tuesday or Wednesday. He assured the public that the shutdown is safe and poses no risk to people or the environment. The plant, built by the Soviet Union, has four reactors and supplies nearly half of Hungary's electricity.

The shutdown can be carried out safely and poses no risk to the public or the environment.

— Peter MagyarAssuring the public about the safety of the plant's closure.

This shutdown occurs amidst a prolonged drought affecting much of Central Europe, impacting tourism, agriculture, and industry. Forecasts predict continued high temperatures, reaching 40-42 degrees Celsius, and no significant rainfall in the coming days or weeks, which will likely prevent the Danube's water levels from rising. The river's level at Paks could drop to -144 centimeters, significantly below the previous record of -98 centimeters set in 2018. A reading of -134 centimeters necessitates a complete plant shutdown.

The critically low water levels in the Danube are pushing Hungary and Romania toward a potential energy crisis, raising concerns about supply disruptions and sharp increases in electricity prices. The Hungarian government has already requested large companies to voluntarily reduce their electricity consumption.

The water level in Paks could drop to -144 centimeters, well below the previous record of -98 centimeters set in 2018.

— N/ADetailing the severity of the low water levels.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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