Hungary to close sole nuclear power plant due to severe drought conditions

Hungary’s Nuclear Power Plant to Undergo First Full Shutdown Due to Low Danube River Levels

BUDAPEST, Hungary - The Paks Nuclear Power Plant in central Hungary will be shut down on Sunday due to record-low levels of water in the Danube River. The plant, which supplies nearly half of Hungary’s electricity, has been forced to reduce its output significantly.

According to Prime Minister Peter Magyar, the plant’s power output fell to 965 megawatts on Friday and further decreased overnight, dropping below normal levels of 2,000 megawatts. The shutdown is due to a river level of minus 134cm at Paks, which is forcing the plant to cease operations.

The Danube River, which flows from Germany to the Black Sea, has experienced record-low levels due to months of heat and drought. This has also led to water-use restrictions being imposed on over 100 cities and villages in Hungary. The government has requested that companies voluntarily reduce their water consumption to help stabilize the situation.

This is not an isolated incident; several European rivers have been affected by low water levels, including those in Slovakia. The country’s Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced that his nation is closely monitoring the energy situation and is prepared to provide assistance if needed.

The Paks Nuclear Power Plant has never experienced a full shutdown before, with its last operational period spanning 44 years. The plant’s closure highlights the impact of climate change on water resources in Europe.

Source: Al Jazeera