Hungary to sink barges in Danube to save nuclear plant's power output

Hungarian authorities are preparing to sink two barges in the Danube River near the Paks nuclear power plant in an effort to raise the water level. This drastic measure is intended to prevent the shutdown of the plant's last two operational turbines, which are threatened by the critically low river levels.

Prime Minister Peter Mađar announced the plan, explaining that the nuclear power plant is currently operating at only 25% capacity due to a historic drought and record low water levels in the Danube. The river's water is essential for cooling the plant. Mađar warned that without intervention, the water level could drop to a critical point by early Monday morning, forcing the closure of one of the two remaining turbines.

"The Danube is receding... the controlled sinking of barges will begin soon," Mađar stated on Facebook, as reported by Reuters. The Hungarian government had previously announced plans to construct an underwater structure to manage the river's flow, a project expected to take several weeks. The sinking of the barges is a short-term solution to keep the turbines running while the permanent barrier is built.

Neighboring Romania recently shut down its last operating reactor due to low Danube levels, highlighting the widespread impact of the drought on the region's energy infrastructure. The ongoing drought is also prompting discussions in both Hungary and Romania about adapting nuclear energy production to increasingly extreme climate conditions.