Key facts
- Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant is set to resume electricity production.
- The plant was shut down for the first time in 44 years due to low Danube water levels.
- Rising water levels, attributed to rainfall in Austria, have allowed for the restart.
- Romania also took measures to ensure sufficient water for its Cernavoda nuclear plant.
- Hungary continues to urge voluntary electricity consumption reductions.
Hungary's sole nuclear power plant, Paks, is expected to resume electricity generation as early as Monday evening, according to Prime Minister Peter Magyar. The plant had been shut down for the first time in 44 years due to critically low water levels in the Danube River, a consequence of recent heatwaves and drought.
Water levels on the Danube began to rise at the end of last week following rainfall in the Austrian catchment areas. Magyar stated on Monday that the river's water level was 19 centimeters above the low point recorded a week prior, and the reconnection process for a Paks turbine has commenced. The No. 3 turbine of the second unit is anticipated to generate power from Monday evening.