BUDAPEST, Hungary – Hungary has announced plans to shut down its only nuclear power plant after the Danube River fell to a record low, reducing the water supply needed for the reactor cooling system.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar said the Paks nuclear plant in central Hungary will be taken offline by next Sunday, marking the first full shutdown in its 44-year history. Paks currently supplies nearly half of Hungary's electricity output.
Magyar said the plant's output fell to 965 megawatts on Friday and to 240 megawatts overnight, far below its normal capacity of 2,000 megawatts.
Located south of Budapest, the plant comprises four Soviet-era reactors that draw cooling water from the Danube. However, low river levels have affected the pumps' ability to intake sufficient water.
If the water level at the Paks area reaches minus 134 centimeters, a full shutdown becomes mandatory. Forecasts suggest it could fall to minus 144 centimeters, well below the record low of minus 98 centimeters set in 2018.
The Danube, which flows from Germany to the Black Sea, is among several European rivers that have seen water levels drop due to months of extreme heat and persistent drought. This has forced Hungary to impose water restrictions in over 100 cities and villages.
The government has also urged businesses that consume large amounts of water in their production processes to voluntarily reduce consumption to help stabilize the situation.
This unprecedented climate disruption has also disrupted river transport, tourism, agriculture, and industry in a country already struggling with years of stagnant growth.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said his country is "closely monitoring Hungary's energy situation" and is ready to offer support.
Europe has faced consecutive heatwaves since May, with the most severe heatwave recorded on the continent in June. Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group said evidence indicates that human-induced climate change is the main culprit behind these abnormal temperatures.
