Hungary Braces for a Full Shutdown of the Paks Nuclear Plant as the Danube River Hits Record Lows
The plant is running at just over 10% of capacity as authorities say voluntary power cuts have eased grid pressure by 700 megawatts.
- On Monday, Romania detonated a rock outcrop to redirect cooling water from the drought-stricken Danube to its Cernavoda nuclear reactor, an extraordinary measure to stabilize the facility operating at reduced capacity.
- The Danube's record-low levels have forced Hungary's Paks nuclear plant to operate at just over 10 per cent of its capacity, threatening complete shutdown if water levels fall further.
- To ease grid pressure, households and companies voluntarily reduced demand by 700 megawatts on Sunday; pharma company Richter will cut consumption by more than 50 per cent, while Romanian car-making plants paused production to save 200 megawatts.
- Political tensions escalated as Fidesz attacked Prime Minister Peter Magyar for neglecting infrastructure investments over 16 years, while Magyar retorted that Orb's governments failed to address water shortages despite knowing the risks.
- Danube water level predictions for the next few days have become "slightly more optimistic," according to Magyar, and authorities expect to finish constructing a temporary dam on Wednesday to further redirect water.
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15 Articles
Hungary braces for a full shutdown of the Paks nuclear plant as the Danube River hits record lows
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary's only nuclear power plant will shut down for the first time in its history due to record-low water levels on the Danube River, Prime Minister Péter Magyar said Friday, adding that the plant may not come back online for several weeks as the river is expected to continue receding.The Paks nuclear plant, located around 90 kilometers (50 miles) south of the capital Budapest, is operating at less than half its normal…
Showers are forecast for Eastern Europe at the end of the week.
A shortage of cooling water from the Danube is causing the partial closure of nuclear power plants in Hungary and Romania. The Romanian government is taking drastic measures to resolve the problem.
Paks nuclear plant winds down amid historic Danube low, as far right urges Hungarians to defy calls for energy saving
With turbines winding down at Paks, bridges in darkness and freight trains halted at peak hours, Hungarians are suddenly feeling how a shrinking Danube can upend daily life and the wider economy.
The water level of the Danube near Budapest has started to slowly rise. After the lowest level measured on Sunday, 9 centimeters, the water level of the Danube is currently 15 centimeters.
A more noticeable rise is expected by the weekend.
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