Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant, responsible for nearly half the country's electricity, may be forced into a shutdown due to record low water levels in the Danube River. Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated that the plant could cease operations within days, but assured that energy supply remains secure.
The potential shutdown of Hungary's primary nuclear power plant highlights the vulnerability of energy infrastructure to climate change impacts like extreme heat and drought, potentially impacting national energy security and requiring significant contingency planning.
Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant is facing a potential shutdown because of critically low water levels in the Danube River, a situation exacerbated by a recent heatwave. The plant, which generates approximately half of the nation's electricity, could be forced into a gradual, scheduled shutdown as early as today or tomorrow, according to Prime Minister Péter Magyar. He assured the public that energy supplies for both businesses and households remain secure, citing the country's import infrastructure capacity.
Adding to the strain on the national grid, the Dunamenti Power Plant, another energy provider, has already been taken offline due to a malfunction, removing an additional 400 MW. Repairs are reportedly underway. Under normal circumstances, the Paks plant utilizes Danube water for reactor cooling. While the plant has previously reduced output during summers due to high water temperatures and low river levels, it has never experienced a complete shutdown.
Romania has also recently shut down both of its nuclear reactors for similar reasons related to low Danube water levels. The Hungarian government is preparing contingency plans, including a crisis plan to temporarily reduce consumption for large public-sector and industrial consumers if the drought intensifies. These measures would not impact community service providers, healthcare facilities, or social institutions.