Danube at extremely low levels: Hungary was forced to almost shut down its only nuclear power plant

© Lena Remmert via Unsplash

Due to the extremely low water level in the Danube, Hungary was forced to almost entirely shut down its only nuclear power plant, Paks (which has four reactors and accounts for 40% of Hungary’s electricity production), during the night from Monday to Tuesday.

At the current water level, the facilities cannot pump enough cooling water, causing the plant to operate at only 10% capacity. “At 1:30 a.m., we were just a few millimeters away from a complete shutdown of the Paks nuclear power plant, but then the water level stopped falling and rose by 1.5 centimeters in the morning. Currently, the last turbine is operating safely,” Prime Minister Peter Magyar reported on Tuesday morning on X.

Prime Minister Magyar’s government had previously announced a package of cost-saving measures: decorative lighting on government buildings must be turned off, no freight trains will run between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., civil servants are required to work from home (and companies are advised to do the same), and air conditioning is restricted to essential cases.

Magyar calls it an unprecedented energy crisis and accuses the previous government (led by Orbán) of failing to invest sufficiently in alternatives. For example, wind energy accounted for only 1% of electricity generation last year.

Romania is also struggling with low water levels in the Danube, which is affecting the Cernavoda nuclear power plant. There, a boulder was blown up to raise the water level near the plant so that at least one reactor can continue to operate. Ford and Dacia are suspending production until August 19 following a request to conserve electricity.

The Danube’s water level has reached a record low. All hopes are now pinned on rain expected in Austria, which should cause the water level to rise. However, it will take several days for that water to reach the areas downstream.

Picture: © Lena Remmert via Unsplash